New diocese proposed for Medjugorje?
CWN - March 23, 2010
Andrea Tornielli, the Italian journalist who last week named some members of a special Vatican commission investigation the reported apparitions at Medjugorje, now reports that one among many steps under consideration is the creation of a new diocese to include the Bosnian town.
The proposal for a new diocese, combining the territories of three existing sees, was advanced last year, Tornielli reports. Bishop Ratko Peric, who heads the existing Mostar diocese where Mejugorje is located, strongly opposed the idea, the Italian reporter said.
The creation of a new diocese would allow for more effective oversight of pilgrimages and devotions at Medjugorje, proponents of the proposal argue. Bishop Peric has actively discouraged pilgrimages, so the proposal appears to be clearly at odds with his concerns. The local bishop is undoubtedly hoping that the newly established Vatican commission will confirm his message of skepticism about the alleged Marian apparitions.
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Posted by: extremeCatholic -
Mar. 23, 2010 11:16 PM ET USA
This is absurd on its face. A diocese is created for stability and permanence -- not for the support of the pilgrims and the hospitality businesses that arise from them. No new dioceses were created for Fatima or Lourdes. The interests of the bishop and clergy of the Medjugorje diocese would inevitably become skewed towards the support of alleged apparitions starting on June 24, 1981 as being authentic and supernatural.
