Posted on 11/16/2009 7:16:28 AM PST by markomalley
EATON TWP. Holy Love Ministries, the Eaton Township site where Maureen Sweeney Kyle and her husband, Don Kyle, operate an ecumenical ministry and pilgrimage site, has received a harsh rebuke from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Bishop Richard Lennon, in a letter and decree released Nov. 11, declared Sweeney Kyles visions to be not supernatural, banned clergy from performing sacraments at the 83-acre site, banned Holy Love Ministries from using the name Catholic or declaring itself a Catholic group, and discouraged practicing Catholics from going to the site.
In a statement Sunday, Don Kyle said, We at Holy Love Ministries are and always have been an ecumenical ministry. We have no affiliation with the Diocese of Cleveland. We are sorry the bishop has taken this position. As it has always been, all people of all faiths are welcome to join us in prayer and the peace that heaven offers at this site.
Sweeney Kyle allegedly started seeing visions of the Virgin Mary in 1985 while praying at a North Olmsted church.
Good that they are doing that. I wish the Vatican would have them look at other, more universally dangerous groups (e.g., "Catholics for Choice")
The US Bishops in open session have declared the organization “Catholics” For Choice to be false Catholics.
Have they published a decree like this one?
So what makes one person's vision acceptable and not the others?
It will be ignored, just like the Bishop condemning Medjugorje.
Any apparition, even one that is "approved" (such as Lourdes or Fatima), is considered to be a "private" revelation...it is up to the individual to discern whether or not it is legitimate or not.
I, frankly, am not certain of all the criteria used to determine which are used in determining whether the Church condemns or accepts an apparition. One of the factors is if a message provided is in disagreement with Church teaching (i.e., the Scriptures and big "t" Tradition).
This document purports to be an unofficial translation of some 1978 guidance given by the CDF concerning the subject. But note I say "purports" -- as it doesn't come from an official source, I'm not able to validate its authenticity. (Also, rumor control is that the Holy Father is supposed to be updating this document in the near future)
Assuming it's a serious question and not a snarky one, thanks for asking.
>>Assuming it’s a serious question and not a snarky one, thanks for asking<<
You’re very kind.
I would have said “Google is your friend.”
I always hold out hope that a constructive dialog can happen...until somebody else draws first blood.
Personally, I think “First Blood” was drawn many threads ago.
However, you have the right attitude and I have the wrong one.
My solution is to pray.
Pray indeed we should! I would suggest you go to Holy Love Ministries’ web site and read the messages as well as the response to the bishop’s latest action against them, even though he’s not stepped foot on the property, nor has he sent a representative to investigate. I would like to see the document from Rome requesting his latest decision on this. And I would like the name of the knowledgable person he says he consulted before making his decision. My take on it? Smoke and mirrors from the bishop. Nothing concrete! No real reason for his findings. Yes...pray!
Additional information regarding Maureen Sweeney Kyle:
Claims of Private Revelation: True or False?
An Evaluation of the messages of Maureen Sweeney Kyle
http://catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false03.htm
Claims of Private Revelation: True or False?
An Evaluation of the messages of Maureen Sweeney Kyle (holylove.org), Part 2
http://catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false03b.htm
A prophet without honor in the Catholic Church, Maureen Sweeney-Kyle is building her own religious empire on an 83-acre farm in Lorain County. And making a lot of money for Mary. http://www.apparitionsites.com/pdf-documents/blessed-other-by-laura-putre.pdf
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.