The following is taken, with permission, from a dossier on Medjugorje originally appearing on the world wide web at http://users.owt.com/rc_poe/solrobin.htm (the URL is no longer active). Its author is a Catholic lady who has based her objections to Medjugorje on Catholic doctrine, the most reliable guide in dealing with alleged supernatural phenomena.
In addition to what we have reprinted here, showing how this supposed apparition contradicts Catholic teaching, the author in her original has posted several authoritative condemnations issued by the local bishop in Croatia.
In our view, the happenings at Medjugorje are not only not divine, but in fact may be diabolical. In response, many proponents of Medjugorje would claim that the apparition has borne the “good fruits” of conversions, increased sacramental confessions, recitation of the Rosary, Marian devotion, and a host of other very Catholic manifestations. We answer that the devil is willing to suffer these effects as long as he can keep his dark mantle over Catholic doctrine, which itself is necessary to make any such fruits efficacious.
As the following proves, the heresy of Medjugorje is that men can be saved in whatever religion they choose. —Editor
What is Medjugorje Saying?
When I first heard that the Blessed Virgin Mary was appearing in Medjugorje back in 1987, I thought, “Hey, it could happen,” but as I began to hear things that the Blessed Virgin Mary allegedly was saying, I thought, “Something is very wrong here.” Many of the sayings of the “Our Lady of Medjugorje” very closely resembled the heresy of indifferentism [i.e., that man can be saved in any religion -Ed.]. The following are some samples of the teachings of “Our Lady of Medjugorje” compared with the infallible teachings of the Holy Catholic Church.
What the Church Says
Ex Cathedra : “There is but one universal Church of the faithful outside of which no one at all can be saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215 A.D.)
Ex Cathedra : “The most Holy Roman Catholic Church firmly believes, professes, and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino , 1441 A.D.)
Ex Cathedra: “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam , 1302 A.D.)
What Medjugorje Says
“God presides over all religions as a king controls his subjects, through his priests and ministers.” (Svetozar Krljevic O.F.M., The Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje , Franciscan Herald Press, 1984.)
Seer Ivanka Ivankovic: “The Madonna always stresses that there is but one God and that people have enforced unnatural separation. One cannot truly believe, be a true Christian, if he does not respect other religions as well.” (The Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje , Franciscan Herald Press, 1984.)
Seer Ivanka Ivankovic: “The Madonna said that religions are separated in the earth, but the people of all religions are accepted by her Son.” (The Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje , Franciscan Herald Press, 1984.)
Question: “Is the Blessed Mother calling all people to be Catholic?”
Seer Vicka Ivankovic: “No. The Blessed Mother says all religions are dear to her and her Son.” (Janice T. Connell, The Visions of the Children, The Apparitions of the Blessed Mother at Medjugorje , St. Martin’s Press, August, 1992.)
Locutionist Jelena Vasilij: “The Blessed Mother has said: ‘Tell everyone that it is you who are divided on earth. The Moslems and the Orthodox for the same reason as Catholics, are equal before my Son and me.'”
