An open question

From Mr John Hanrahan, convenor of the Medjugorje Apostolate SIR – Donal Foley’s letter (April 16) claims the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) was sceptical about the Medjugorje visions, based on the local Bishop of Mostar’s recent ad limina meeting with Pope Benedict. This assertion conflicts with the statements made by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, a long-standing confidant of the Pope as a CDF member, who reported that the outlook for Medjugorje was promising in relation to the new commission, following his very recent meeting with the Pope on his return from Medjugorje.
Donal Foley’s claim that the former Yugoslavia bishops’ conference Zadar declaration 1991 was “essentially negative” is also incorrect. As investigations into Medjugorje had already been passed to the Vatican, the CDF secretary, Cardinal Bertone responded by stating that “although it was not proved that these events were supernatural it did not mean to say that they were not supernatural”, meaning that the process of discernment continues. He also said that “the Bishop of Mostar’s opinions were his own, which he was entitled to”. Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, the Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina, also spoke about the Pope’s recognition of the spiritual fruits which had taken place among the clergy in Medjugorje.
The list of names appointed to this commission, the first of its kind in the history of the Church, represent some of the most qualified in theology and human sciences, addition to the five cardinals, all offering significant levels of professional expertise and experience.
Yours faithfully, JOHN HANRAHAN Surbiton, Surrey