The Vatican looks to approach alleged miracles with increased scrutiny.
In the future, the Catholic Church intends to scrutinize claims of divine miracles, such as apparitions of the Virgin Mary or weeping statues, with more skepticism. To accomplish this, Pope Francis is revising the guidelines that have been in place for over 40 years.
The Vatican has undergone a significant overhaul in its approach to evaluating these alleged divine encounters. According to a document published by the Vatican, which bears the pope's signature, the aim is to make the process of assessing miracles more critical. The Vatican Office for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome will have the ultimate authority in determining the validity of supernatural events.
As the internet has led to a rise in false rumors and misinformation about miracles, the outdated guidelines from 1978 are no longer effective or practical. There's also a risk that con artists will try capitalize on the gullibility of believers by fabricating miracles. The Vatican's new standards are designed to prevent such abuses.
The revised guidelines include six different categories for evaluating supernatural phenomena. The most positive rating, "Nihil obstat" (meaning "Nothing stands in the way"), implies that while there isn't absolute certainty of supernatural authenticity, there are indications that the Holy Spirit is involved. Believers can then worship and honor the event without question.
The remaining five categories deal with uncertain or questionable phenomena. Local bishops will initially categorize an event, while the Vatican will make the final decision. According to the Vatican, only five such cases have been officially confirmed since 1950, and these new norms are expected to speed up the vetting process.
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The International community has expressed concern over the Vatican's shift in evaluating miracles, viewing it as a significant move within the broader context of Christianity. Despite this, Pope Francis maintains that the revised guidelines are crucial to protect the integrity of the Catholic Church and mitigate incidents of fraud.
Source: www.ntv.de
