Question: The same person (name withheld upon request), inquiring about Father Mitch Pacwa’s article on Maria Valtorta responded with two additional questions regarding negative articles found posted on the internet. One was compiled by F. John Loughnan: Maria Valtorta's "Poem Of The Man-God and Medjugorje.

http://jloughnan.tripod.com/valtmedj.htm

The other article is: Claims of Private Revelation: True or False? An Evaluation of the messages of Maria Valtorta and her Poem of the Man-God, by Ronald L. Conte Jr.

http://www.catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false10.htm

Articles compiled by F. John Loughnan: Maria Valtorta's "Poem Of The Man-God and Medjugorje.

Maria Valtorta's "POEM OF THE MAN-GOD"

"Poem Of The Man-God" Critique By Brother James, S.D.B

Some ten to fifteen years ago I acquired a forty-eight page document, critical of "Poem", written by a Salesian Brother who was then stationed in San Francisco. The last two paragraphs comprise the comments of his proof-reader, and of Bro. James, S.D.B. himself:

Proofreader for this critique: "If I had not promised to proof read this for you, I would have stopped reading. I do not know if I can contain my last meal. Very disturbing! Dangerously blasphemous material. Scary that many persons will believe this. Valtorta's Jesus is homosexual!"

http://www.valtorta.org/the_poem__reviews_and_critiques.asp

http://members.aol.com/fmrega4/Valtorta.htm

http://mariavaltortawebring.com/Pages/002_Testimonials.htm

http://mariavaltortawebring.com/Pages/003_Scientific.htm

Bro. James: "I will critique Volume V when it is available. Poem of the Man-God is so demonic that without a special Grace from our Lord Jesus, we would be trapped in seemingly harmless statements by Valtorta's Jesus, but they enclose lies and heresy, contrary to Teachings of our One, Holy, Catholic Church. 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against Me: My Church!"

Unity Publishing commented on some of Brother James' observations:

Aping

"The poem refers to a baby as an "it" on page 23 of book #1,

and an angel as an "it" on page 38.

On page 40 Mary asks her mother if it would be right of be a sinner out of love for God, so that God could forgive you. No comment needed.

On page 85 Mary claims to have consecrated Herself to virginity. One consecrates oneself to God, one vows virginity. We do not think Mary would make such a theological mistake.

On page 89, it is claimed that Adam and Eve had an infinite gift of grace. Only God is infinite in anything positive, and even in the negative (infinitely bad), the negative is controlled by God.

On Page 358 Jesus claims that He asks the Father not to lead Him into temptation, as if God could sin.

On page 128 Mary claimed that Joseph 'never erred' meaning never sinned. Only Mary is without original or actual sin.

To give those who never read the "Poem" an idea of the stupidity, let us quote one passage on page 166: "The Child was about to fall asleep. He seemed a little restless, as if He had teething trouble, or some other minor pain of childhood."

Mary sings: "All the sparkling angels - that in Heaven be. Form a wreath around You, innocent Child - enraptured by Your face. But You’re crying for Your Mummy - Mummy, Mummy, Mum. The sky will soon be red - and dawn will soon be back, and Mummy had no rest - to ensure You do not cry.

On pages 196, 197, 201, 202, 204, and 209 it is claimed that Jesus learned from Joseph and Mary. And on pages 309. 310, and 311 He even asks to be taught things. God does not learn from anyone as He states on page 216 of the same book. This contradiction is not as important as the bottom line of the entire set of books.

The man made god, as the title indicates, has one primary demonic purpose, to show Christ as an ignorant "mere human" being as Nestorian believed and was condemned for believing in the Council of Ephesus."

Placed On the Index.

"Poem Of The Man-God" was put on the Index of Forbidden Books in 1959, being described in L'Osservatore Romano as "a badly fictionalized life of Christ". Furthermore, "Catholics were warned that it was not to be considered as revealed by God, and in fact, under the rules of the Index, no one, not even a priest, could read the volumes without a serious reason (e.g. to refute its errors) and the permission of the bishop or religious superior."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/06/eveningnews/main566978.shtml

http://www.advancedchristianity.com/Pages/CBS/CBS.htm

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/downloads/CrimenSollicitationes-Unprotected.pdf

http://www.medjugorjecenter.org/churchcrisis/missinglink.html

(cf. Appendix I). Colin B. Donovan, STL (EWTN's resident theologian) points out Cardinal Ratzinger's admonition that the Index (and the warning against "Poem Of The Man-God") retains its moral force and that, in 1993.

The same Congregation required the printing of a disclaimer on any future editions to the effect that: "clearly indicated from the very first page that the 'visions' and 'dictations' referred to in it are simply the literary forms used by the author to narrate in her own way the life of Jesus. They cannot be considered supernatural in origin."

CDF Communique On Private Revelation. In 1996, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a communique on private revelation (Appendix II below). Specifically directed in respect of the alleged "seer" Vassula Ryden, it contains principles which are applicable to all "private revelations" and, in particular, to "Poem Of The Man-God" AND to Medjugorje: "With regard to the spreading of texts of presumed personal revelations, the Congregation makes it clear that: The interpretation by some people of a decision approved by Paul VI on October 14, 1966, and promulgated on November 15 of the same year, by virtue of which writings and messages coming from presumed revelations might be freely spread within the Church is absolutely not valid. This decision actually referred to the 'Abolition of the Index of Banned Books,' and said that - once relative censures were lifted - the moral obligation in any case not to spread or read those writings which endangered faith and morals still remained.

A reminder, therefore, that for the diffusion of texts of presumed private revelations, the norm of the Code in force, Canon 823, para 1, which gives pastors the right 'to demand that the writings of the faithful which touch faith or morals be submitted to their own judgment before publication', remains valid. [Emphasis added by F.J.L.]

http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Imprmatur.htm

Presumed supernatural revelations and writings which regard them are in the first instance subject to the judgment of the diocesan bishop and, in particular cases, to that of the episcopal conference and the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith." [Emphasis added by F.J.L.]

Seers" Claim The BVM OK'd "Poem"

In response to the question: "What can you tell me about the book Poem of the Man-God? Has it been condemned by the Church?", the following answer was given: "Poem of the Man-God, a multi-volume work of prose written by Maria Valtorta, purports to be a factual account of the life of Christ as revealed by Jesus himself. Interest in the work grew after one of the alleged seers from Medjugorje claimed that the Virgin Mary okayed the reading of the book.

http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Danylak.htm

http://www.medjugorjeweible.com/other_materials.html

The history of the book leads one to question the credibility of this claim. In 1960 The Poem Of The Man-God, then a four-volume set, was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books. The official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, summarized the findings of the Holy Office in an article titled "A Life of Jesus Badly Fictionalized." When the publishers tried to get around this condemnation the next year by publishing a new ten-volume set, the work again was condemned in the Vatican paper which called it "a mountain of childishness, of fantasies, and of historical and exegetical falsehoods, diluted in a subtly sensual atmosphere."

Comment: Comment: "Badly Fictionalized"? Not according to the experts, two Popes (Pope Pius XII and Pope Paul IV), Blessed Gabriel Allegra, OFM (who was the only Scripture scholar beatified by Pope John Paul II), Padre Pio, Mother Theresa of Calcutta, etc. Again, the list could go on for pages.

In correspondence with "Catholic Answers", the current Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, pointed out that, although the Index was abolished in 1965, it still retains its moral force, and faithful Catholics should heed the reservations and cautions expressed in it."

The following statement was undoubtedly intended to be seen in a good and positive light, but instead, it is an example of the type of deception employed by the "seers", and of the nature of this so-called "Gospa": "Medjugorje visionary, Vicka Ivankovic, in an interview with an American attorney on Jan. 27, 1988 said: "Our Lady said if a person wants to know Jesus, he should read THE POEM OF THE MAN-GOD by Maria Valtorta. That book is the truth."

Critique By Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. states:

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

November 1996

II. Regarding the circulation of texts of alleged private revelations, the Congregation states:

The Interpretation given by some individuals to a Decision approved by Paul VI on 14 October 1966 and promulgated on 15 November of that year, in virtue of which writings and messages resulting from alleged revelations could be freely circulated in the Church, is absolutely groundless. This decision actually referred to the "abolition of the Index of Forbidden Books" and determined that after the relevant censures were lifted, the moral obligation still remained of not circulating or reading those writings which endanger faith and morals. 2. It should be recalled however that with regard to the circulation of texts of alleged private revelations, canon 623 #1 of the current Code remains in force: "the Pastors of the Church have the right to demand that writings to be published by the Christian faithful which touch upon faith or morals be submitted to their judgement". 3. Alleged supernatural revelations and writings concerning them are submitted i

n first instance to the judgement of the diocesan Bishop, and , in particular cases, to the judgement of the Episcopal Conference and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

 

Comment: This has been repeated several times and addressed several times.

 

 

CARITAS OF BIRMINGHAM

Caritas is a community. It is also the publisher of the "Poem" and is located right next to Mother Angelica’s EWTN radio and television broadcasting stations. They also have an information center in Medjugorje called "Caritas". Since there also is an arm of the Vatican called "Caritas" used to give food and relief to areas in need, many think that Caritas is part of the Vatican. It is not. It was founded by a millionaire, who went to Medjugorje and came back to found a community of believers and to promote the "Poem". He has his own airplane and makes trips to Medjugorje at his slightest whim. The community prays in the field everyday, in spite of the fact that a Church is right across the street. This is because one of the seers of Medjugorje has a vision on that spot. It seems the "spot" is more holy than the Body and Blood of Christ in the Church across the street.

 

Comment: This is not abnormal behavior by any means, praying on the apparition spot was common with other apparitions such as Fatima.

 

 

According to one of our researchers, who was at one time high up in the New Age Movement, "Caritas" is reaping in New Age theology. She spent a great deal of time with them, and has a report to be printed soon. Terry Colafrancesco of "Caritas" wrote to Cardinal Ratzinger on July 21, 2000. We have a copy of this letter. The reason we have a copy is that he published the letter. In his letter he claims to be a community in the making and to have a mailing list of over 100,000 people in the USA alone not counting 65 foreign countries. "Our work", he writes, "is the implementation of Our Lady’s plan given in Medjugorje." After five condemnations of the "Poem", he states his reason for writing is the "gray area", since "I am a close, personal friend of Marije Pavlovic, one of the visionaries in Medjugorje, and there is no question that she spoke to Our Lady and asked Her if one could read the Poem of the Man God. Our Lady answered that it was acceptable to read. Marija’s statement cannot be ignored." In other words, there is a gray area because the Church condemned a book that "Our Lady" recommends. How could the Cardinal, responsible for the protection of the faith of the entire world go against the wishes of Our Lady? Or another way of putting it is, "Let us put our faith in private revelation and not in the teaching authority of the Church". Cardinal Ratzinger did not think the letter worthy of a personal response, since "Caritas" was under the theological jurisdiction of the Bishop of Birmingham. It is Bishop Boland’s responsibility to see to it that his children keep the faith and obey the Church. However, his letter of response was so ambiguous and stupid that it caused more confusion than help. He left "Caritas" the impression that if they did not claim any supernatural influence in the "Poem" it could be sold as simply the imagination of the writer, and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the Church. This is fine, if you overlook that fact that the book states on every page, "Jesus said = Jesus told me - Mary said - Mary told me that, etc." Even if these references were removed, everyone knows private revelation is claimed. They continue to publish the books as they were written.

Comment: Medjugorje has been likened to Fatima before the Miracle of the sun.  Witnesses reported that just prior to the Fatima miracle, a Priest attempted to disperse the crowd, declaring it was a hoax. When that failed, he attempted to physically pick up the children and remove them. Again, the crowd prevented him.  Our Holy Mother promised a miracle greater than the one at Fatima, at the conclusion of the visions. Furthermore, the miracle will be indestructible and permanent, lasting to the end of time. All that see it will believe. After the miracle, Valtorta detractors will find it necessary to re-evaluate their position.

 

"Medjugorje"

Perhaps the best approach to make concerning this matter, which is of concern to pious people who are interested in the subject, is to re-produce a portion of the Bishop of Mostar 1995 book on the subject; but first an an introductory note:

Bishop Peric:

We, the Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina, are preoccupied with the consequences of the four years' war (1992-1995), and of the reconstruction of the life of the Church, and we do not see the need to form a new commission of inquiry and to make a new declaration concerning Medjugorje. For my part, I have included an article entitled "Criteria for Discerning Apparitions:" regarding the events at Medjugorje in my most recent book, Prijestolje Mudrosti (Seat of Wisdom) published at Mostar in 1995, pp. 266-286). I put forward ten points explaining the reasons why one cannot recognize the authenticity of Medjugorje. I am, moreover very grateful to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for having, on two occasions, explained and implemented the affirmation of the Episcopal Conference of the ex-Yugoslavia. This was done in a letter to Mgr. Daloz, Archbishop of Besançon, on 4 July 1995, and in a letter to Mgr. Taverdet, Bishop of Langres, on 23 March 1996. After having cited the declaration of the Episcopal Conference of the ex-Yugoslavia, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith added: "From what has been said, it follows that official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, representing it as a place of authentic Marian apparitions must not be organized either on a parish or diocesan level, because this would be a contradiction of what has been affirmed by the bishops of the ex-Yugoslavia in their previously cited declaration."

 

Comment: Many Medjugorje and Valtorta supporters look forward to dispensations by challengers and detractors after the miracle. I’m going to stop here, the rest is of the arguments are limited to Medjugorje, which is off the given topic. F. John Loughnan’s compilation of articles continues on Medjugorje for dozens of pages. They appear to be against any apparition, private revelation or vision after the death of the last Apostle, as though God died along with St. John the Apostle. The arguments expand to encompass even Church approved apparitions, and continues plummeting even further south from there.