Jozo Zovko exiled

[Denise]

The Papal War against Medjugorje: Jozo Zovko exiled

1° Suspension: On 23-8-1989 (letter nr. 622/89) Jozo has been suspended by Mostar-bishop Zanic, because of serious accusations.

Jozo refuses to obey and appeals to the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples in Rome.

This Congregation confirms on 15-2-1990 (letter nr. 5673/89) the suspension of Jozo by Mgr. Zanic, and asks that Jozo should be exiled to a convent, far from Medjugorje.

Jozo refuses.

On 25-7-1991 (letter nr. 377/91) the Franciscan provincial of Hercegovina proposes to the bishop of Mostar to transfer Jozo to the convent of Siroki Brijeg, only 30 km from Medjugorje.

The bishops responds on 30-7-1991 (letter nr. 557/91), refusing this proposal.

On 2-9-1991 (letter nr. 649/91) bishop Zanic complains that Jozo, notwithstanding his suspension, continues to administer the Sacraments in Siroki Brijeg.

When Mgr. Peric is installed as the new bishop of Mostar in August 1993, Jozo is still committing insubordination.

On 11-11-1993 the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples writes to the Minister-General of the Franciscan order that Jozo and 3 other Franciscans are suspended, but that they continue practicing their priestly functions in the vicinity of Medjugorje.

On 29-12-1993 the Franciscan Province informs bishop Peric by letter nr. 380/93 that Jozo is appointed as the parish administrator in Siroki Brijeg.

On 4-2-1994 the bishop by letter nr.69/94 expresses his consternation about this.

On 12-6-1994 the bishop makes a canonical visit to Siroki Brijeg. Jozo confirms him that, notwithstanding his suspension, he still hears confessions.

2° Suspension: On 14-6-1994 the bishop notifies by letter nr. 423/1994, that Jozo is automatically suspended according to canon 1378 par. 2.

On 15-6-1994 the bishop also notifies Jozo’s superior of this by letter nr. 423/1994-ad.

Jozo did not pay any attention to this letter and continues to be disobedient.

During his ad limina-visit to Rome, the bishop by letter nr. 1203/98 of 6-11-1998, informs the Holy See of this situation.

Without mentioning the irregular status of Jozo, in 2002 the Provincial writes that ’those who accept Medjugorje, consider Jozo as a devote priest, and that he, on invitation, gives spiritual retreats on the island of Jakljan and in Medjugorje.’

3° Suspension: On 26-6-2004 in a long letter nr. 843/2004, bishop Peric suspends Jozo for the third time because of his persistent disobedience. He invites him to the bishop’s office in Mostar in order to regularize his priestly status. In the diocesan Curia the bishop wants to show him all documents related to his illegal pastoral activities as well as to his ‘moral’ life. This decree has been officially published in the diocesan bulletin Vrhbosna, 3/2004 p. 293-298.

Jozo again refuses to obey.

And what happens now? On 9-2-2009, the personal assistant of Jozo in Siroki Brijeg, Vesna Cuzic, informs all Medjugorje-groups, that Jozo, for reasons of ‘health, rest and convalescence, and for renovation of buildings on the island of Badija-Croatia (how ‘logical’: renovating buildings while he is supposed to take a rest…), Jozo will not be available for pilgrims for the rest of the year 2009.

During the annual meeting of the Medjugorje-Guides in March 2009, the provincial, Fr. Ivan Sesar, made known that Jozo had ‘requested for a sabbatical year…’

But rumors say that recently Jozo has been seen for several days in Rome, and that after the severe punishment and exile of Fr. Tomislav Vlasic by the Vatican in 2008, a new commission is now occupying themselves with the ‘Jozo case’.

Jozo’s superiors, who until now, had always supported Jozo’s disobedience, now seem to feel uneasy and therefore exiled Jozo to the small island of Badija, near the island Korcula, thus obeying the demand of 1990 of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples.

And indeed, in the Croatian Magazine “Nacional” of 24-2-2009 (p. 68-72) appeared a long article, titled: ”Papal War against Medjugorje”. Subtitle: ”The exile of Jozo”.

Furthermore: “Jozo was moved from Siroki Brijeg and left behind on the island Badija for as long as the Papal Commission concerning Medjugorje is pursuing her investigation".

At last Jozo has been banned to a convent, far from Medjugorje, “ordered by Rome and against his own will".

But, as is always the case, the Medjugorje-media are manipulating the naïve Medjugorje-fans and falsify the real motive for his exile.

“Nacional” continues : “Jozo was moved to Badija not because of health reasons, as was officially stated, but exiled by the Franciscan Province.”

“After 18 years of resistance and disobedience, Jozo was compelled to obey a decision of the Holy See since February 1990, whereby Rome confirmed the suspension by Mgr. Zanic in 1989."

At the end of 2008, the administration of the Franciscan Province of Hercegovina decided that Jozo at last should accept the punishment by Rome.

To some close friends Jozo said that he was ‘sent to the desert’.

Many ask themselves why, after 18 years, Jozo has finally obeyed to the decision of the Church Administration. The answer is that very soon the Vatican will start a new commission about Jozo and Medjugorje.

And it is well known that the former Card. Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was rather negative about Medjugorje... (see his letter of 22-7-1998).

"Jozo has now decided not to be an obstacle in that process.”

Feast of St Joseph, 19-3-2009
mark waterinckx Belgium

[KevinSymonds]

Well, we had our suspicions that something was up. The timing was too close to simply accept them at their word.

Rome is either cleaning house, or pearing-down the "phenomenon Medjugorje". Either way, we are going to see some sparks fly.

I hope that we see another public document from Rome that shows the disciplining of Fr. Jozo. There could not, and I do mean not, be any fallouts for the adherents of Medjugorje after such a shock. At least with Fr. Vlasic, they can claim he has been gone since the mid-80's. The Medjugorje tours stop over to hear Fr. Jozo talk, even just up to his sabbatical. That would be a definitive strike at the heart of the "phenomenon Medjugorje."

Will Rome take the plunge? Or will she just let Jozo slip into the Erebus of Oblivion?

She has to walk a very-fine tight-rope or there's going to be mutiny in the house.

-KJS

[Denise]

Wow Tom, I think you might be totally right!!!!!
When the head of this beast comes off it will roll all at once.