Church's Stance on Medjugorje

• 📌 The official Church status of Medjugorje, as of 1991, is "con non supernatural," meaning it cannot be declared supernatural.
• ✈️ While initially not publicly encouraged, Pope Francis in 2019 allowed for public pilgrimages, meaning parishes or dioceses can organize trips.
• 📜 This permission does not equate to an official declaration that the apparitions are supernatural; the Church has not moved past the "con non supernatural" judgment.

Historical Bishop's Positions

• 🧐 The first local bishop, Zanic, initially affirmed the apparitions but later preached against them.
• ❌ His successor, Perić, stated more strongly that they were "con non supernatural" (not supernatural).
• ⚖️ However, these individual bishop's opinions are not considered governing authority, which rests with the Bishops' Conference.

Private Revelation and Interpretation

• 💡 Private revelation, like Medjugorje, is not meant to add to public revelation but to help people live the faith better in their time.
• 🗣️ Messages from alleged apparitions are filtered through the individual visionary's culture and mediating concepts, not a direct, unadulterated transmission.
• ⚠️ Potential material heresy in messages is possible, but the Church looks for formal heresy (obstinate denial of divine and Catholic faith).

Fruits and Discernment

• 🌱 A key approach to discernment is judging by the "fruits," observing the conversion, devotion, and engagement with sacramental life in those who visit.
• 🚫 The presence of negative elements, like the excommunication of a spiritual director, is acknowledged but does not necessarily negate the positive fruits for others, similar to Judas's proximity to Christ.
• 🤔 The argument is made that attributing positive fruits solely to other pious practices might require more "mental gymnastics" than acknowledging the apparitions' role.

Caution and Church Authority

• ⚠️ A significant concern is the tendency for devotees to ignore the Church's directive of not taking the authenticity for granted.
• ⏳ The Church often takes a long time to approve apparitions (e.g., Fatima took 13 years), and expecting the laity to maintain strict caution for extended periods is challenging.
• 🗣️ While clerics should uphold higher standards, the expectation is that even the laity should be cautious, though human nature often leans towards enthusiasm for novelty.