REGARDING REGARDING the article "Spreading the good news of a blessing", Feb 7, I disagree with fellow Jesuit Richard Foley's patronising interest in the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin at Medjugorje in Yugoslavia.
The readers of his enthusiastic message ought to be told that the local bishop of Mostar, in whose diocese Medjugorje lies, has publicly and in writing expressed his negative views about these "apparitions". In addition the bishops of Yugoslavia and Italy have forbidden pilgrimages there. Even as conservative a theologian as Jean Galot, of
Gregorian University, wonders if continuing daily apparitions, as those claimed for Medjugorje, do not in fact tend to replace faith by vision already on earth, Esprit et Vie, November 21, 1985, pp. 60f. I dare say that all claims regarding apparitions of Our Lady, since La Salette (1846) onwards, can be questioned in the light of the increasing knowledge in the realm of parapsychology. This has been explained in greater detail in the article "'Apparitions": Critical Comments', Religious Studies Bulletin, September 1984, pp.
16a5l-aiw7i C. Africa)
Malawi Sabourin, SJ