For over two decades, the Virgin Mary has allegedly been appearing in Medjugorje — and visitors there have numbered in the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. (My wife is one of them; she made a trip there herself several years ago and was deeply impressed by the experience.)

The Vatican has ruled that it has found nothing supernatural going on there. But still, the pilgrims have flocked.

Now, Rome has gone one step further.

The item below is from the blog Unam Sanctam Catholicam:

The Vatican has not condemned Medjugorje as such, but it came awfully close by imposing harsh restrictions on Fr. Tomislav Vlasic, OFM, the prime spiritual leader of the alleged seers and chief promoter of the Medjugorje movement. The announcement of the sanctions was made through the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, but it must be stressed that this condemnation come from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith itself, so no one ought to be going around after this saying that it is only the local bishop who is opposed to Medjugorje. Let’s look at the statement (from Te Deum) [my emphases]:

The CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH with its letter prot. 144/1985-27164 of 30 May 2008, has authorized me as the local Bishop of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno to inform the diocesan community of the canonical status of Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, the founder of the association “Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu” – (Queen of Peace, totally Yours – Through Mary to Jesus).

The letter signed by the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Angelo Amato, states the following:

“Within the context of the phenomenon Medjugorje, this Dicastery is studying the case of Father Tomislav VLASIC OFM, originally from that region and the founder of the association ‘Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu’ (Queen of Peace, Totally Yours-Through Mary to Jesus).

On 25 January 2008, through a properly issued Decree, this Dicastery imposed severe cautionary and disciplinary measures on Fr. Vlasic.

The non-groundless news that reached this Congregation reveals that the religious priest in question did not respond, even partially, to the demands of ecclesiastical obedience required by the very delicate situation he finds himself in, justifying himself by citing his zealous activity in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno and surrounding territories, in initiating religious activities, buildings, etc.

Since Fr. Vlasic has fallen into a censure of interdict latae sententiae reserved to this Dicastery, I kindly ask Your Excellency, for the good of the faithful, to inform the community of the canonical status of Fr. Vlasic and at the same time to report on the situation in question…”.

This regards the fact that the same Congregation of the Holy See applied ecclesiastical sanctions against Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić, through a Decree of the Congregation (prot. 144/1985) of 25 January 2008, signed by Cardinal William Levada, Prefect, and by Archbishop Angelo Amato, Secretary of the Congregation along with the “Concordat cum originali” of 30 January 2008, verified by Msgr. John Kennedy, Official of the Congregation.

The Decree was handed over to Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić in the General Curia of the OFM in Rome on 16 February 2008 and the notification was co-signed by the Minister General of the Franciscan Minor Order, Father José R. Carballo, the Ordinary of Fr. Vlašić.

The Decree of the Congregation mentions that Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, a cleric of the Franciscan Minor Order – the founder of the association ‘Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu’ and who is involved in the “phenomenon Medjugorje” – has been reported to the Congregation “for the diffusion of dubious doctrine, manipulation of consciences, suspected mysticism, disobedience towards legitimately issued orders and charges contra sextum.”

You can read more at the link. This is serious. And should give pause to anyone who has a strong devotion to this still-unapproved apparition.

UPDATE: A few people have wondered what the phrase “contra sextum” means. It is a Canon Law term that refers to a violation of the sixth commandment.

UPDATE II: Catholic News Service has now posted its own report on the controversy surrounding Fr. Vlasic, reminding us, as well, that he is the second “spiritual advisor” to the “visionaries” who has been disciplined by the Vatican.