Vatican Denials about Planned Apparitions’ Document

In January 2009 in widespread media publicity was given to alleged reports that a Vatican document was in preparation which would have an adverse effect on alleged Marian apparitions and visions, like those at Medjugorje. Based on these reports, a weekly Catholic newspaper in Ireland suggested that the ‘Vatican document’ in question would have repercussions for Christina Gallagher and the House of Prayer, and the article writer reiterated this point in a regional radio programme, during which he also poured scorn on the work of Mrs. Gallagher. Within a matter of days it emerged (see report below) that the claimed ‘Vatican document’ reports had no basis in fact, and no work was being done on any such document. However, the ‘story’ which had been carried in the weekly Irish religious newspaper went uncorrected and no retraction materialised - which does not inspire confidence in any such publication.

NCRegister.com “A Vatican official has denied that a document is being prepared about how to deal with the alleged Marian apparitions and visions, such as those at Medjugorje. According to some reports that have circulated in the last few days, Pope Benedict has instructed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to prepare a vademecum, or handbook, on the matter. It reportedly would require individuals who said they have experienced appearances or visions of the Virgin Mary to remain silent while their claims are investigated carefully by Church authorities. The document was also rumoured to specify that local bishops should set up commissions composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, theologians and priests to investigate the claimed apparitions. But according to a congregation of the Doctrine of the faith official who spoke with Register correspondent Edward Pentin, there is no truth to these reports. The official stated emphatically that no work is underway on a vademecum or any other type of document regarding the question of how to handle claims of apparitions.”