Letter to Presidents of Episcopal Conferences (25 January 2007)

Letter to Presidents of Episcopal Conferences (25 January 2007)

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
William Cardinal Levada, Prefect

Image of Letter (PDF format)

January 25, 2007

Prot. N 54/92-24945

Your Eminence / Your Excellency,

         The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith continues to receive requests for clarification in relation to the writings and activities of Mrs Vassula Ryden. These requests address in particular the import of the Notification of 6 October 1995, and the criteria to be considered by the local Church in judging whether the writings of Mrs Vassula Ryden may appropriately be disseminated.

In this regard, the Congregation wishes to state the following:

          1)      The Notification of 1995 remains valid as a doctrinal judgment of the writings examined (see Enclosure I)

          2)      Mrs Vassula Ryden, however, after dialogue with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has offered clarifications on some problematic points in her writings and on the nature of her messages which are presented not as divine revelations, but rather as her personal meditations (see Enclosure 2: Letter of 4 April 2002, published in True Life in God, vol. 10). From a normative point of view therefore, following the aforementioned clarifications, a case by case prudential judgment is required in view of the real possibility of the faithful being able to read the writings in the light of the said clarifications.

          3)      Finally, it remains inappropriate for Catholics to take part in prayer groups established by Mrs Ryden. Concerning the question of ecumenical meetings, the faithful are to follow the norms of the Ecumenical Directory, of the Code of Canon Law (canons: 215; 223, §2 and 383, §3) and of Diocesan Ordinaries.

Thanking you for your attention and with sentiments of esteem, I am

Yours sincerely in Christ,
William Cardinal Levada
Prefect

(2 enclosures)