The Canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlaši , 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 Vlaši
, 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:
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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 Tvoji – po 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
Vlaši , 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 Vlaši 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. Vlaši .
The Decree of the Congregation mentions that Rev. Fr. Tomislav
Vlaši , 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.”
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 Vlaši .
With the sentiments of my highest consideration,
+ Ratko Peri , Bishop
Fr. Ante Luburi , 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 Vlaši
, 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. Vlaši
in the case of Medjugorje, keeping in mind all that was earlier
published in the
book „Ogledalo Pravde"
[1] – Mirror of
Justice.
Tomislav Vlaši was born in Sovi i, 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 apljina.
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
Vlaši 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. Vlaši 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. Vlaši left apljina 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.
Vlaši be assigned as the "spiritual assistant in Medjugorje".
Bishop Žani , whilst not knowing the moral situation of Fr.
Vlaši , issued a decree on 27 July of the same year transferring
him to Medjugorje. Fr. Vlaši 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 Žani visited
Medjugorje on 16 October 1983 and inquired about the Diary
of the "seer" Vicka Ivankovi 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. Vlaši 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 Dragi evi
, 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. Vlaši
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. Vlaši wrote to Bishop Žani
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 Žani 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 Vlaši .
On 30 October 1984, Bishop Žani published his
Position in which he mentioned some of the above-mentioned
facts on Fr. Tomislav Vlaši , 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 Frani in his interview given to Fr.
Slavko Barbari , on 18 December 1984, said that he had a "deep
impression" of Fr. Tomislav Vlaši 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 Vlaši 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. Vlaši – 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. Vlaši
[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 Vlaši is no longer on
the list of the members of the Franciscan Province of
Herzegovina. However, his name is attached to that of Marija
Pavlovi who in February 1988 went to join Vlaši '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 Pavlovi . 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 Žani 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 Peri , on the basis of can. 975 of
the Code of Canon Law, declared that Fr. Tomislav Vlaši
has no faculties to hear confessions in the territory of the
Dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan.
Don Ante Luburi , Chancellor
