Vatican On Father Tomislav Vlasic

By Bishop Ratko Perić

The Canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić, OFM
The Bishop, August 31, 2008


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 Tvojipo 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:
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“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 Tvojipo Mariji k Isusu’.
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 Tvojipo 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.”

Having studied the case, the Congregation during its special Congress decreed the following sanctions against Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlasic:
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“1. Mandatory residence in one of the houses of the Order in the region of Lombardy (Italy) to be determined by the Minister General of the Order and to be realized within thirty days from the time of the legitimate notification of this decree;

2. All contacts with the “Kraljice Mira…” community and with its members are prohibited;

3. Any actions involving juridical contracts and administrative organizations, whether canonical or civil, effected without the written permission ad actum of the Minister General of the Order and under his responsibility are prohibited;

4. A mandatory course of theological-spiritual formation, with a final evaluation along with a prior recognitio of this Congregation, and a solemn professio fidei;

5.
The following are also prohibited: activities involving the ‘care of souls’, preaching, public appearances, while the faculty to hear confessions is also revoked up until the conclusion of the terms described in the previous number, barring an evaluation of the case.


An additional sanction of a latae sententiae interdict (can. 1332) reserved to the Apostolic See is adjoined in the case of the violation of the mandatory residence (n. 1) and the other prohibited acts mentioned in n. 3 and n. 5.


Fr. Vlasic is forewarned that in the case of stubbornness a juridical penal process will begin with the aim of still harsher sanctions, not excluding dismissal, having in mind the suspicion of heresy and schism, as well as scandalous acts contra sextum, aggravated by mystical motivations.

Fr. Vlasic remains under the direct jurisdiction of the Minister General of the Order of Minor Franciscans, who shall see to his vigilance through the local Superior or another Delegate”.

All the priests, religious and faithful in the Dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebnje-Mrkan, as well as all those concerned “in the pertinent territories”, are hereby informed on the current canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić.

With the sentiments of my highest consideration,

+ Ratko Perić, Bishop
Fr. Ante Luburić, Chancellor

source Diocese of Mostar / http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=228

 

Letter to Priests and Bishops

Chancellor, 2008-08-31

Due to the fact that the case of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić, OFM, according to the letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, n.144/1985-27164, dated 30 May 2008, and published in the Bishop's circular letter prot. 930/2008 on 8 July 2008, mentions "within the context of the Medjugorje phenomenon", we wish to inform the priests, religious men and women as well as the faithful of the Dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan on the involvement of Fr. Vlašić in the case of Medjugorje, keeping in mind all that was earlier published in the bookOgledalo Pravde"[1] – Mirror of Justice.

            Tomislav Vlašić was born in Sovići, in the parish of Gorica (Herzegovina) on 16 January 1942. He was ordained a priest on 26 July 1969, as a member of the Franciscan OFM Province of Herzegovina. Before his arrival in Medjugorje, Fr. Tomislav was the associate pastor in the parish of Čapljina. Even at that time he was known as a "charismatic" who gathered priests, religious sisters and the laity together for dubious charismatic spiritual renewals.

            May 1981. In May of 1981, "Fr. Tomislav Vlašić went to Rome for an international Congress of representatives of the Charismatic movement. During the Congress he asked some of the participants to pray together with him for the healing of the Church in Yugoslavia. The religious sister Briege McKenna, who joined him in prayer had a vision: she saw Fr. Vlašić sitting with a multitude of people around him and from the place where he was sitting there came forth rivers of water. Another religious priest present, Emile Tardiff O.P., prophesied: 'Do not be afraid, I will send you my Mother'. A few weeks later, the Madonna started appearing in Medjugorje".[2]

            - This would imply that one should seek the origins and foundation of the Medjugorje phenomenon within the context of the transferring of exponents of the Charismatic movement!

            September 1981. Fr. Vlašić left Čapljina for Medjugorje without the Bishops' prior knowledge nor permission in September of 1981, just two months after the beginning of the so-called "apparitions" which can be seen from the entries in the baptismal register. He began to compile the "Parish Chronicle" on the so-called "apparitions" on 11 August 1981, yet the actual writing of the Chronicle "did not begin before the end of October 1981".[3] On 19 July 1982, the OFM Provincial recommended that Fr. Vlašić be assigned as the "spiritual assistant in Medjugorje". Bishop Žanić, whilst not knowing the moral situation of Fr. Vlašić, issued a decree on 27 July of the same year transferring him to Medjugorje. Fr. Vlašić followed the "seers" from the very beginning and when he was officially assigned as associate pastor in Medjugorje, he became their "spiritual leader".

            December 1983 – The Oath. Bishop Žanić visited Medjugorje on 16 October 1983 and inquired about the Diary of the "seer" Vicka Ivanković and on the Parish Chronicle so that he could better judge the phenomenon. Fr. Tomislav handed over the Chronicle yet he denied the existence of the "seer's" Diary, saying he could swear an oath on the cross. He then came to the Diocesan Chancery Office in Mostar on 14 December 1983 and before the Bishop gave an oath on the cross that he had never held Vicka's diary in his hands nor that he had any knowledge that such a diary existed. However, the Diary did exist as was proven from Fr. Tomislav's own Parish Chronicle and from his letter to the Bishop of 21 December 1983.

            In a conversation held in 1983, Fr. Vlašić informed the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar that "The children have decided to enter the convent, but they are awaiting the right moment which only they know".[4] Yet the only one to enter the convent was Ivan Dragićević, who after not even two full years in the minor seminaries of Visoko and Dubrovnik decided to leave.

            In a letter dated 13 April 1984, Fr. Vlašić presented himself to the Holy Father as the one "who through Divine providence leads the seers of Medjugorje". He informed the Pope that the "Madonna continues to convey her biography to the seers" and informed the Holy Father that "I am in Rome from 29 April till 10 May for an international meeting. I know that you are very busy, but if you could receive me for a few minutes I would be able to explain the strong points of the apparitions".

-          It remains unknown if the Pope received him in a private audience.

A second letter, six pages long, sent to the Pope two weeks later, contained "messages": "The time is close at hand. We are approaching the end".

            On 22 August 1984, Fr. Vlašić wrote to Bishop Žanić informing him that the Madonna's 2000th birthday was to be held that same year on 5 August! No important ecclesiastic person took this news seriously and neither did Bishop Žanić nor the Holy See. However, during 1984, on 4 and 5 August, a large group of people gathered in Medjugorje to "celebrate" the Madonna's "birthday".

            - The "Mladifest" (Youth festival) that is usually held at the beginning of August, is probably attached to this Medjugorje invention of Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić.

            On 30 October 1984, Bishop Žanić published his Position in which he mentioned some of the above-mentioned facts on Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, referring to him as a "mystifier and charismatic magician".

            In 1984, Fr. Tomislav had to leave Medjugorje and was assigned to the parish of Vitina as associate pastor.

            Archbishop Frane Franić in his interview given to Fr. Slavko Barbarić, on 18 December 1984, said that he had a "deep impression" of Fr. Tomislav Vlašić and that "he is on the path of serious sanctity evident in his sense of detachment and inner strength".[5]

            On 5 January 1985, Fr. Tomislav Vlašić wrote to one of his "dearest brothers" in the Vatican (Msgr. Hnilica?) asking for protection from the bishop: "It would be necessary to get all the others involved (intellectuals, theologians, bishops, cardinals...). We have to admit that Satan can also work through the structures of the Church."

            Unfortunately the same Fr. Vlašić – according to the authentic documentation from his association – conjured evil spirits up in Medjugorje, for which his actions are under pain of mystified motivations.

            In 1987 he left Vitina for Parma, Italy, together with the German citizen Agnes Heupel (like "Claire and Francis", as literally written by T. Vlašić[6]), where he established the male and female association called "Kraljice mira, potpuno smo tvoji. Po Mariji k Isusu" (Queen of Peace, totally yours. Through Mary to Jesus). From that time onward, the name of Fr. Tomislav Vlašić is no longer on the list of the members of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina. However, his name is attached to that of Marija Pavlović who in February 1988 went to join Vlašić's association. This is where Fr. Tomislav got his "charismatic" hands involved, for in his brochure "Jedan poziv" (A single call) he wrote: "Amongst other things I asked the Madonna a question through Marija Pavlović. Marija then gave me the Madonna's answer on 8 March 1987: 'This is God's plan'"[7]. And at the end of this brochure Marija writes: "As you can see, the Madonna has given the community its programme: 'Kraljice mira, potpuno smo tvoji. Po Mariji k Isusu' and is guiding this community through Fr. Tomislav and Agnes, while sending messages through her to the community".[8]

Yet on 11 July 1988, Marija radically and in written form denied the declaration of Fr. Tomislav and even her own "testimony": "before God, before the Madonna and the Church of Jesus Christ. Everything that can be understood as a confirmation or approval of this Work of Fr. Tomislav and Agnes Heupel, on the part of the Madonna through me, absolutely does not correspond to the truth and furthermore the idea that I had a spontaneous desire to write down this testimony is also not true".

- We know that no lies can correspond to the truth, yet one can see from this how the notorious lies of Medjugorje have also been attributed to the Madonna, which Bishop Žanić painstakingly struggled against in order to defend the honour and dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

            Through his letter dated 5 December 1997, the local Ordinary, Msgr. Ratko Perić, on the basis of can. 975 of the Code of Canon Law, declared that Fr. Tomislav Vlašić has no faculties to hear confessions in the territory of the Dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan.

  Don Ante Luburić, Chancellor