Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Vatican commission to investigate Medjugorje

The Vatican has released a statement confirming the formation of a commission to investigate the "phenomenon" of Medjugorje.

"Under the auspices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the presidency of Cardinal Camillo Ruini, an international commission of investigation on Medjugorje has been constituted," according to a statement quoted by the Catholic News Agency.

The Commission, composed of cardinals, bishops and experts "will work in a reserved manner, subjecting the results of their studies to the authority of the Dicastery".

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in the report that no other information was available at this point besides the role of Cardinal Ruini as president.

However, he did say that the commission will be formed by "more or less" 20 members.

Responding to a question from a journalist about the possible inclusion of Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar, whose diocese includes Medjugorje, Fr. Lombardi said that he was not in possession of a list of members.

The Vatican spokesman reviewed the history of investigations into the possible Marian apparitions of Medjugorje, noting that they began on a diocesan level.

When it was seen that the "phenomenon was broader than the diocese," it was passed on to the episcopal conference of the former Yugoslavia, which, he noted, no longer exists.

The commissions at those levels never came to a conclusion on the question of whether or not the alleged apparitions are supernatural.
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