The Vatican tightened its guidelines for recognising supernatural phenomena such as apparitions of the Virgin Mary and seemingly blood-soaked crucifixes, CNN reported.
Implemented by the Vatican’s doctrinal office (DDF), the changes are aimed at bringing the church in line with the rapid proliferation of apparition claims on the Internet. According to a document released by the Vatican on Friday, the procedure will allow for faster decisions while respecting popular devotion’ when it comes to evaluating claims of supernatural phenomena, which can include the apparance of stigmata and other alleged miracles.
In line with previous guidelines, a local bishop could quickly declare the supernatural nature of an apparition, the Vatican said. In other cases, a bishop could decide whether an event was supernatural, only to have his successor come to the opposite conclusion, the statement said.
The new Vatican guidelines say that from now on, bishops and church officials will not declare whether alleged phenomena are supernatural or not, leaving that decision up to the pope.
The head of the DDF, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, told reporters that often these events “have led to a great richness of spiritual fruits, growth in faith, devotion, fraternity, and service. In some cases, they have given rise to shrines throughout the world that are at the heart of many people’s popular piety today.”
Speaking at a press conference at the Vatican, the cardinal cited as a positive example Lourdes, a Marian shrine in south-west France, which is visited by people with physical and spiritual ailments. He went on to add that some alleged events which derive from the pursuit of “profit, power, fame, social recognition, or other personal interest” may harm the faithful, potentially even to the extent of “exerting control over people or carrying out abuses.”
Bishops are now generally expected to issue a “nihil obstat” that would allow worship services but leave open the question of official recognition of supernatural activity at the Vatican. One site of alleged Marian apparitions that is still under review by the Vatican is Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Other options available to bishops include the possibility of officially rejecting experiences as supernatural, as well as steps to ban or restrict the worship of phenomena viewed with suspicion. The guidelines state that those who spread false claims could face sanctions, including official church penalties.
The new guidelines are to replace the 1978 rules, so that bishops no longer have to act independently on such sightings, but instead consult with the Vatican.
