Curia finally takes decision on Borġ in-Nadur

The Maltese Church has finally taken a decision on the infamous Borġ in-Nadur case, banning Angelik Caruana from announcing or interpreting the “phenomena and messages” that have allegedly been taking place on the Borġ in-Nadur hill in Birżebbuġa.

The Curia said in a statement on Friday evening: “For a number of years, it has been alleged that certain phenomena and messages have been occurring at Borġ in-Nadur. In a spirit of discernment and evaluation of these alleged phenomena and messages, the authorities of the Church in Malta feel that the time is ripe to issue this directive, namely that such phenomena and messages are no longer to be announced and interpreted in the public fora.”

The statement added that Mr Caruana will only attend activities at Borġ in-Nadur on the 26th of every month, and that this directive holds until the Church authorities announce otherwise. 

Meanwhile, the Church authorities will continue to receive and evaluate all the information and scientific research with respect to this case.

The Curia had long been unwilling to talk about Mr Caruana’s alleged visions, but the Curia’s pro vicar general Mgr Anton Gouder had told this newspaper that although the Borġ in-Nadur case was being scrutinised, whether individuals believe Mr Caruana’s claims or not is a very personal matter.

This is very much in line with the Church’s position on apparitions. 

When the Vatican recognised Marian apparitions in the town of Laus in the French Alps a few years back, Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco remarked: “Nobody is obliged to believe in apparitions, even in those officially recognised, but if they help us in our faith and our daily lives, why should we reject them?”

Mr Caruana has allegedly been having visions of and receiving messages from the Blessed Virgin since December 2005, and he has managed to attract a number of followers. He has claimed he received messages from the Blessed Virgin about a number of topics such as the dangers of divorce. 

It was more than three years ago that Pope Benedict requested the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to draw up new guidelines for the recognition of claims of Marian apparitions, in a bid to avoid “excesses and abuses”.

The guidelines were published around May this year. They are a translation of procedural rules dating back to 1978 that were previously only available in Latin.

According to a report published in The National Catholic Reporter, the guidelines are aimed at helping bishops verify Marian apparitions, and specify that bishops should set up a commission of experts to determine “the facts, the mental, moral and spiritual wholesomeness and seriousness of the visionary, and whether the message and testimony are free from theological and doctrinal error.”