Vatican Letter to Bishops of Puerto Rico CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH Regarding undue devotion has spread among many Catholics about the alleged apparitions of the "Mission of the Virgen del Rosario del Pozo", sent a letter and decree with directions about the conduct to be followed by the bishops of each place to the people who adhere to such devotion. In the Press statement of November 14, 2006, the Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico said the responsibility that the pastors of the Church have a phenomenon that in some respects devotional is harmful and for that reason is the responsibility of the Church to intervene especially in severe circumstances to correct and prevent abuses in the practice of worship. Given the seriousness of the case and concern that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (headed up by our April 2005 Pope Benedict XVI) feels about the issue of the "Mission de la Virgen del Rosario del Pozo," the Vatican congregation rose the following Decree: CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH Excellence: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued, on September 19, 2002, a disciplinary decree concerning the matter of the alleged apparitions of the Blessed. Virgin Mary at the Well of Sabana Grande (Puerto Rico) and asked the promoters of these groups to sign a statement of faith. Lately, the bishops of Puerto Rico issued a pastoral letter on the same topic to keep the faithful adhere to such groups. I send the above documents and request that, in his capacity as Chairman of the Conference of Bishops, to communicate the following guidelines to bishops need, for each Ordinary to proceed in relation to individuals acting against the established by Decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith September 19, 2002: 1) He is released the decree. 2) If they obey, are well determined the person acts contrary to the provisions of the decree and the circumstances of time and place. 3) The person responsible for such acts to be formally reprimanded (cf. can. 1347). 4) If the person remains obstinate, is appropriate to impose the penalty of interdict by extra-judicial decree (cf. c. 1332, 1729). 5) Against the Ordinary issued a decree to this effect will be possible to appeal to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith I take this occasion to express my best feelings and confirm his most devoted in Christ: + Angelo Amato, SDB, Titular Archbishop of Sila Secretary Source: http://info-ries.blogspot.com/2011/09/arzobispo-mexicano-advierte-sobre-la.html |