From Rorate Caeli: Patriarchate of Constantinople denounces Vassula Ryden
.
[T]he Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a strongly-worded decree denouncing Vassula Ryden and her works, excluding her supporters from (Orthodox) communion, and warning people from spreading her teachings her lest they incur canonical censures.
.
In this spirit, and for the beneficial protection of our pious Orthodox plenitude from dangerous spiritual confusion, who do not know well matters underlying the risk of delusion, rejects from the Mother Church Vasiliki Paraskevis Pentaki - Ryden, widely known as a "Vassula", and her organization founded under the title "True Life In God" which rashly and frivolously proposes teachings based on the supposed "direct dialogue between her and the Founder of the Church Jesus Christ our Lord", and those conquered by her and the supporters of "True Life In God", which deviate arbitrarily from the God-given teaching of the Church, but also scandalize the Orthodox phronema of pious believers.
.
Hence, we call upon the proponents of these unacceptable innovations and the supporters who maintain them, who henceforth are not admitted to ecclesiastical communion, not only to not be involved in the pastoral work of the local Holy Metropolis, but also to not preach their novel teachings, to prevent the appropriate sanctions under the Holy Canons. - Rorate Caeli
.
The Mystic circuit.
.
I wrote about Ryden before and got some flack from a couple of her supporters, one a well known priest. Many of these people appear to be obedient yet they are adamant in their devotion of the seer and seem to be reluctant to accept the judgement of the Church in these matters. What did I say the other day in another post about priests and bishops who look the other way when it comes to dubious revelations and apparitions? They often dismiss the critics saying, "Well, as long as people are praying and going to Mass." In some cases there are theologians, priests* and bishops who go along with the visionaries and promote their causes - despite the fact other bishops and Church congregations issue warnings that the movements are not supernatural, and may be false and even dangerous.
.
Another situation is scheduled in the St. Cloud Diocese in the next week or so. Outside of St. Cloud, Minnesota, in Sauk Centre is a House of Prayer established by the followers of Christina Gallagher, the Irish mystic whose work and revelations have been denounced by her Diocesan Bishop in Ireland. Yet she is allowed to promote her messages in the St. Cloud Diocese. These messages play to the mistrust and fears of gullible Catholics who look to Gallagher as a stigmatic in direct contact with the Blessed Virgin. See their website here. I spoke with the chancery in St. Cloud and the chancellor, Fr. Rolfes told me he saw nothing against the faith in their prayer meetings, and that Gallagher's priest-advisor is a priest in good standing. He is also aware of the problems Gallagher has had with her Bishop. The chancellor told me he intended to be present at the next meeting to see that everything was orthodox. That's a good sign - I think.
.
Nevertheless, I'm always a bit surprised how promoters of such visionaries seem to be very skilled at explaining away CDF notices and episcopal condemnations in order to find loop holes for people of good faith to follow along and join the cult - and donate. The practice has been tolerated with the Medjugorje phenomenon for decades.
.
Photo: Vassula's Miracle
.
*Note: One defender of Vassula Ryden, Fr. John Abberton is very busy refuting all the claims against her. It's pretty amazing.
.
H/T Pewsitters for original link to Rorate Caeli.
