PAVAO ZANIC, RATKO
PERIC & THE YUGOSLAV BISHOPS' CONFERENCE
Chief Medjugorje antagonist had been the late Bishop of Mostar,
Pavao Zanic, and lately his successor Ratco Peric. Bishop
Zanic appeared to be on a crusade all of his own and speculation
is that his motives relate to a long-running battle with the
Franciscans over directorship of parishes in the region. Cardinal
Ratzinger discarded the conclusions of the Zanic Commission
and withdrew Bishop Zanic's right to pass official judgement
on Medjugorje's authenticity, a responsibility which Cardinal
Ratzinger then passed to the Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia,
which was duly appointed to study the matter.
Bishop Zanic initially supported the apparitions in the first
few months, but later changed his mind. He cited a long list
of reasons in his defence, many of which are difficult to
see as justifying the uncompromising stand he took against
Medjugorje, a stand he thereafter fiercely and, as noted by
many observers, unreasonably defended.
Bishop Zanic may have had another reason to change his stance
on the apparitions. The following quote from www.ourmedjugorje.com.
In the beginning, the Communist atheist state in Yugoslavia
noted that the Bishop’s positive approval of the apparitions
stood in contrast to the official state attitude toward
the events which they suspected were counter-revolutionary.
(This was at a time when it was dangerous to utter even
a word in favor of Medjugorje.) Consequently, they summoned
the Bishop to Sarajevo and threatened to imprison him unless
he stopped speaking in favor of the apparitions. They threatened
Father Jozo as well, but he continued to act according to
his convictions. Bishop Zanic called Father Jozo and said
to him, “I am not ready to go to prison for Medjugorje.”
The Communists arrested Father Jozo along with Father Ferdo
Vlasic and Father Jozo Krizic for their beliefs in the visionaries.
Because of his fears, Bishop Zanic said nothing at all publicly
at first after his meeting with the authorities. After that,
he began to speak against Medjugorje. Source
In 1987 the Vatican officially proclaimed Medjugorje a "shrine
of worship" and authorised the Medjugorje Franciscans
to minister to the spiritual needs of the pilgrims as well
as entrusting to spiritual directors accompanying pilgrims
the task of serving the sacramental obligations of the faithful
while away from their own home parishes. The Yugoslav Commission
of Bishops openly favored Medjugorje. On April 29, 1990 the
National Catholic Register quoted Pope John Paul II as having
told Bishop Murilo Krieger of Santa Caterina, Brazil: "Medjugorje
is a great center of spirituality."
Shortly therafter, the Catholic News Service published a
scathing article dramatising the report of the Yugoslavian
Bishops Conference which stated that they could not confirm
that the Medjugorje apparitions were of a supernatural nature
(supernatural meaning "of God"). Diocesan papers
across the country had headlines proclaiming: "Medjugorje
Apparitions Not Supernatural", negatively influencing
many Catholics and believers and helping to begin the completely
unnecessary gun-jumping wedge-driving process that has resulted
in the polarisation of Catholics who believe from those who
do not, evident today. Yet, on December 23, 1990 Cardinal
Kuharic, the highest prelate of the Yugoslav Commission, stated
implicitly that "the Bishops' Conference was taking a
positive stance towards the events in Medjugorje." The
President of the Yugoslav Bishops Commission, Archbishop Frane
Franic, in an interview in September 1991, cited Paul's words
of 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-22, i.e. that, following Paul's call,
"It is the duty of the Church Authority as St. Paul says
not to suffocate the spirit in the Church of Love but to discern
the spirits". Unfortunately, too often many bishops and
priests put it aside. They should examine it for whatever
is good and coming from the Holy Spirit, like Medjugorje."
Read
letter from Pavao Zanic outlining his position and reasons
YUGOSLAV BISHOPS' CONFERENCE DECISION
In May 1987, the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference nominated Bishop
Frajo Comarica, Auxiliary Bishop of Banja Luka, ex-professor
of theology at Sarajevo University, and youngest bishop in
the Yugoslav episcopate, as President of the Medjugorje Inquiry
Commission. By mid-1988 the Commission was reported to have
terminated its work with a positive judgment on the apparitions.
However, not wishing to directly contradict Bishop Zanic,
the group continued its proceedings at a snail's pace, hoping
that the pilgrimages would diminish and disappear. After a
long and exhausting "tug-of-war" within the episcopate,
the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, in the 1990 (November 27-28)
extraordinary assembly in Zagreb, approved the following Declaration:
- From the very beginning, the Bishops have been following
events in Medjugorje through reports by the local Bishop,
the local diocesan Commission, and the Yugoslav Bishops'
Commission on Medjugorje. On the basis of research conducted
until now, we cannot affirm that there have been supernatural
apparitions or revelations.
- Nonetheless, the continuing gatherings of faithful, inspired
by religious motives and arriving from various parts of
the world, necessitate the Bishops' constant attention and
concern. For that reason. our Bishops' Conference, in a
spirit of ecclesial communion, is willing to assist the
resident Bishop in organizing pastoral activities at Medjugorje,
in order to promote a correct liturgical and pastoral life
in the parish, and thus avoid events or teachings which
may not conform to the spirit of the Church.
To many, this Declaration appeared ambiguous. Although the
supernatural essence of the apparitions is not affirmed, there
is recognition of the resulting "cult," to be "managed"
by the resident Bishop. On this subject, ex-Archbishop of
Split Frane Franic stated in an interview with the Italian
daily {Corriere della Sera}, on January 15, 1991, that only
the ferocious opposition of Bishop Zanic, who refused to budge
from his own verdict, had impeded a positive decision on the
Medjugorje apparitions: "The bishops do not wish to humiliate
Monsignor, Zanic," Franic stated, "And when it was
brought to his attention that his opposition was unfounded,
he began to cry and shout, and the bishops finally stopped
arguing."
Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, Archbishop of Zagreb and President
of the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, in an interview with
Croatian public television on December 23, 1990, said that
the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, including himself, "has
a positive opinion of Medjugorje events."
How can we explain Bishop Zanic's behavior? Most conclusions
on the subject seem to focus on the long-standing conflicts
between the Franciscan and secular clergy in the Mostar region.
A LETTER FROM ROME ON MEDJUGORJE
For the 17th Anniversary of the apparitions, the Church just
gave a beautiful gift to Our Lady! The Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith sent the following letter to Bishop
Gilbert Aubry of Saint Denis clarifying its position on Medjugorje.
He received it on June 24th. On the 25th, he spread it to
the priests and communities of his diocese (circular # C003)
so that they can have the latest statement from Rome and,
if necessary, inform the faithful with full knowledge of the
facts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGREGATIO
PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI
Pr. No 154/81-06419
Citta del Vaticano, Palazzo del S. Uffizio
May 26, 1998
To His Excellency Mons. Gilbert Aubry,
Bishop of Saint-Denis de la Reunion
Excellency:
In your letter of January 1, 1998, you submitted to this
Dicastery several questions about the position of the Holy
See and of the Bishop of Mostar in regard to the so called
apparitions of Medjugorje, private pilgrimages and the pastoral
care of the faithful who go there.
In regard to this matter, I think it is impossible to reply
to each of the questions posed by Your Excellency. The main
thing I would like to point out is that the Holy See does
not ordinarily take a position of its own regarding supposed
supernatural phenomena as a court of first instance. As for
the credibility of the "apparitions" in question,
this Dicastery respects what was decided by the bishops of
the former Yugoslavia in the Declaration of Zadar, April 10,
1991: "On the basis of the investigations so far, it
can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural
apparitions and revelations." Since the division of Yugoslavia
into different independent nations it would now pertain to
the members of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Hercegovina
to eventually reopen the examination of this case, and to
make any new pronouncements that might be called for.
What Bishop Peric said in his letter to the Secretary General
of "Famille Chretienne", declaring: "My conviction
and my position is not only 'non constat de supernaturalitate,'
but likewise, 'constat de non supernaturalitate' of the apparitions
or revelations in Medjugorje", should be considered the
expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar
which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place,
but which is and remains his personal opinion.
Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are
conducted privately, this Congregation points out that they
are permitted on condition that they are not regarded as an
authentification of events still taking place and which still
call for an examination by the Church.
I hope that I have replied satisfactorily at least to the
principal questions that you have presented to this Dicastery
and I beg Your Excellency to accept the expression of my devoted
sentiments.
Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone
(Secretary to the "Congregatio", presided over by
Cardinal Ratzinger)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fr. Daniel-Ange (France) summarizes this way:
- The declarations of the Bishop of Mostar only reflect
his personal opinion. Consequently, they are not an official
and definitive judgement from the Church.
- One is directed to the declaration of Zadar, which leaves
the door open to future investigations. In the meanwhile
private pilgrimages with pastoral accompaniment for the
faithful are permitted.
- A new commission could eventually be named.
- In the meanwhile, all Catholics may go as pilgrims to
Medjugorje.
The following article was taken from http://www.verite.cz
Disinformation materials about Medjugorje were publicised
on internet at the address Christ.Net.cz. The information
had been analysed out by the Jugoslavian Bishop’s Conference
more than 10 years ago (on 10th April 1991) and investigations
about them were closed with official conclusion which found
them groundless. Unfortunately, many people out of ignorance
or out of prejudice against apparitions spread them privately
further and present them as official standpoint of the Church.
The said information, for the most part, were spread by bishop
Zanic within the years 1981 - 1985. For not too much informed
readers we state basic additional information explaining the
whole matter.
Immediately after the beginning of the apparitions, bishop
Zanic to whose diocese the Medjugorje´s parish belongs,
was about these events informed. (Normally it is local bishop
who always deals with such a matter.)
When the Communist regime accused the Church of staging and
lies, bishop Zanic, on the basis of personal investigation,
was declaring and publishing for three months that children
having the apparitions did not lie and immediately, still
in the course of apparitions, he wanted to declare them authentic.
But other personal contradictions with Franciscans (who were
not from Medjugorje) had happened and bishop began to have
prejudices against apparitions, too. He started writing and
telling that apparitions had been staged by Satan. Prof. Rupcic,
however, with regard to this had the objection that it was
not possible because it would mean the Satan´s conversion.
Formerly he was saying: ”Do not pray, do not have faith,
do not go to Mass, do not repent, do not confess, do not take
part in adoration, steal, do not make it up with each other,
get divorced ...” And in Medjugorje he says: ”Pray,
have faith, go to Mass, repent, make it up with each other,
do not get divorced …” It would be the greatest
miracle in the world.
For that reason bishop Zanic started telling that it is case
of hallucinations. But hallucinations with certain content
can have one man but not six people. Collective hallucinations
psychiatry does not know.
When neither this explanation of his had had success, he
began collecting various gossip and distorted information
and drawing rash conclusions from that. Then, on 2nd of June
1982 he had visited John Paul II and announced him his decision
to declare that the apparitions are unauthentic. Pope had
heard him out attentively and after pointed out that he proceeded
from groundless assumptions. He recommended him further investigations
which bishop Zanic promised. But to his four - member commission
he gave instruction to collect materials speaking against
authenticity of the apparitions but not the instruction to
examine objectively visionaries and the course of apparitions
(Dr. Ivan Duganžic only a member of the commission).
Further, of his own accord he was further collecting intensively
further untruths and assumptions and he succeeded in publishing
them in L´Osservatore Romano and La Croix in November
and especially in December 1984.
In this situation archbishop Franic, the chairman of the
theological commission working for the Jugoslavian Bishop´s
Conference lodged with Vatican a complaint against bishop
Zanic on 29. 1. 1985. The Congregation of Cardinal Ratzinger
had found out that the complaint is justified and in April
1985 withdrew the bishop Zanic´s powers to make further
decisions on the events and asked him to pass over the documentation
which was realized in Vatican on 15. 5. 1985.
In 1987, at the instigation of Vatican, Cardinal Kuharic,
the chairman of the Jugoslavian Bishop´s Conference
created new commission working for the bishop´s conference,
in which bishop Zanic was only a member.
The bishop´s conference with help of the fourteen-member
commission had been negotiating again the said assumptions
and untruths and officially it evaluated them definitively
on 10. 4. 1991 finding them, with regard to the authenticity
of apparitions, groundless. Therefore the opinion of bishop
Zanic is necessary to be taken as a private opinion because
the official church standpoint is opposite.
Two reasons are known which significantly influenced the
opinions of bishop Zanic. The first reason concerns passing
of the parishes with Franciscans over to diocesan priests.
For the thing is that in past centuries during the oppression
in Bosnia-Herzegovina it was only Friars-Franciscans who persevered
with people. In compliance with the agreement from 1975 Franciscans
are to pass some of the parishes over to the diocesan administration.
But bishop Zanic wanted to speed up and to widen this handing
over but he met with resistance especially among believers
who are fond of Franciscans.
The second reason was a protracted dispute with two Franciscans
from Mostar. These said that in a certain matter the bishop
had not acted rightly and this man, on 7. 2. 1983, let them
divest of their priestly activity. Both of them approached
through Vicka the Virgin Mary and She said they did not commit
offence. And in the end this, ten years later was also confirmed
by the Apostolic See in Rome which on 27. 3. 1993 stated that
Franciscans had not committed violation of the rules but bishop
Zanic had been acting in contradiction with canonical law.
When bishop Zanic had begun to spread his assumptions and
untruths publicly. Via the Catholic press, archbishop Franic
and Vatican officially intervened, but to bishop Zanic was
also sent a clear letter by one of the best experts at mystics,
the cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar:
”Sir, how sad documents you sent into the world!
I deeply saddened at seeing what manner the bishop´s
title had been dishonoured. Instead of being patient you are
thundering and sending forth the Jupiter´s lightnings
by maligning of respectable and innocent people who deserve
your considerations and your protection. Over and over again
you are proceeding from already for a hundred times refuted
accusations … I hope you do pray to the Lord and His
Mother so that they may lead this sad,so important drama to
such end which would be for the benefit of the whole Church.
Join to all the people who pray so devotedly in Medjugorje.”
12. 12. 1984
I remain in the Lord
Your Hans Urs von Balthasar.”
Conclusion
The Church officially considers the presented disinformation
to be groundless (10th April 1991) and this has opened the
way to the recognition of the authenticity of apparitions.
Nevertheless, any commission which would be solving this problem
(i.e. the supernature of apparitions) has not been established
yet.
The constatation of all medical commissions of the years
1982 (prof. Stopar), 1984 (French team), 1985 (Italian team)
and 1997 (international team) was, that visionaries are from
the point of view of psychiatry completely healthy and that
the apparition cannot be explained naturally. Some of the
examined healings cannot be explained naturally as well.
As far as Medjugorje alone is concerned there were never
any problems with priests in the past and now, too, as it
was confirmed publicly by bishop Peric on 14. 6. 2001, who
nevertheless, does not believe the apparitions and took over
his view from bishop Seance. He, himself, for more that 10
years after the beginning of apparitions had been living abroad
and after the takeover of the bishop´s function he did
not create any commission for investigation and he never had
any meeting with visionaries.
As far as Medjugorje alone is concerned, from the beginning
of apparitions every single day there have been always peace,
quiet, joy and people have been receiving great God´s
graces there. But nobody is forced to do these pilgrimages,
but they are not banned, too. Only the official, festive character
they cannot have. Ordinary pilgrimages are, to the contrary,
necessary for the recognition of the authenticity of apparitions.
For information we state the extract of the Medjugorje´s
statistics for the year 2001: Medjugorje was visited by 1
cardinal, 14 archbishops and bishops. During Holy Masses there
were serving 27,322 priests and in the course of the whole
year there were given 1,164,000 Holy Communions. Visionaries
lead exemplary Christian and family life.
RNDr. Ing. František Mrácek, CSc.
Return
to index of subjects on Medjugorje
Article by Paul Baylis. Published April 4, 2006.
This article borrows material from other websites and press
materials and in some cases directly quotes these sources.
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