The Vatican Changes the Rules on the Supernatural Part 2

Due to the complexity of the topic, I decided to write about the Vatican’s recent changes to the criteria for evaluating supernatural phenomena in three parts.  In the first part, I wrote about the Church’s teachings on public and private revelation and the criteria for evaluating supernatural phenomena that the Vatican used from 1978 until just a few weeks ago.  This second part examines the new criteria recently enacted by the Vatican.

 
After using the 1978 rules for several decades, the Vatican decided to change these rules.  On 17 May 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released six new criteria for evaluating supernatural phenomena.  This Dicastery is headed by Víctor Manuel Cardinal Fernández and the new rules were authorized by Pope Francis I.  

 
So that I accurately report on the new criteria, I am quoting directly from the Dicastery’s “Norms of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for proceeding in the discernment of alleged supernatural phenomena” as posted online at https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/17/240517h.html  

“16. The discernment of alleged supernatural phenomena may reach conclusions that are usually expressed in one of the terms listed below.

 
17. Nihil obstat – Without expressing any certainty about the supernatural authenticity of the phenomenon itself, many signs of the action of the Holy Spirit are acknowledged “in the midst”[18] of a given spiritual experience, and no aspects that are particularly critical or risky have been detected, at least so far. For this reason, the Diocesan Bishop is encouraged to appreciate the pastoral value of this spiritual proposal, and even to promote its spread, including possibly through pilgrimages to a sacred site.

 
18. Prae oculis habeatur – Although important positive signs are recognized, some aspects of confusion or potential risks are also perceived that require the Diocesan Bishop to engage in a careful discernment and dialogue with the recipients of a given spiritual experience. If there were writings or messages, doctrinal clarification might be necessary.

 
19. Curatur – While various or significant critical elements are noted, at the same time, the phenomenon has already spread widely, and there are verifiable spiritual fruits connected to it. In this situation, a ban that could upset the People of God is not recommended. Nevertheless, the Diocesan Bishop is asked not to encourage this phenomenon but to seek out alternative expressions of devotion and possibly reorient its spiritual and pastoral aspects.

 
20. Sub mandato – In this category, the critical issues are not connected to the phenomenon itself, which is rich in positive elements, but to a person, a family, or a group of people who are misusing it. For instance, the spiritual experience may be exploited for particular and undue financial gain, committing immoral acts, or carrying out a pastoral activity apart from the one already present in the ecclesiastical territory without accepting the instructions of the Diocesan Bishop. In this situation, the pastoral leadership of the specific place where the phenomenon is occurring is entrusted to the Diocesan Bishop (or to another person delegated by the Holy See), who, if unable to intervene directly, will try to reach a reasonable agreement.

 
21. Prohibetur et obstruatur – While there are legitimate requests and some positive elements, the critical issues and risks associated with this phenomenon appear to be very serious. Therefore, to prevent further confusion or even scandal that could erode the faith of ordinary people, the Dicastery asks the Diocesan Bishop to declare publicly that adherence to this phenomenon is not allowed. At the same time, the Diocesan Bishop is asked to offer a catechesis that can help the faithful understand the reasons for the decision and reorient the legitimate spiritual concerns of that part of the People of God.

22. Declaratio de non supernaturalitate – In this situation, the Dicastery authorizes the Diocesan Bishop to declare that the phenomenon is found to be not supernatural. This decision must be based on facts and evidence that are concrete and proven. For instance, if an alleged visionary admits to having lied or if credible witnesses provide elements of proof that allow one to discover that the phenomenon was based on fabrication, an erroneous intention, or mythomania.

 
23. In light of the aforementioned points, it is reaffirmed that, as a rule, neither the Diocesan Bishop, nor the Episcopal Conferences, nor the Dicastery will declare that these phenomena are of supernatural origin, even if a Nihil obstat is granted (cf. Par. 11, above). It remains true, however, that the Holy Father can authorize a special procedure in this regard.”

To be blunt, the Dicastery’s statements are not well written nor easy to understand on first reading. Much of the new criteria is ambiguous.  You may have to read these new criteria a few times to fully grasp what the Vatican is saying, as I had to do.  

 
So I am now going to attempt to summarize what these new criteria are.  Hopefully the Holy Spirit will help me to get it right: 

 
Nihil obstat – the Diocesan Bishop recognizes that the Holy Spirit may be present in the spiritual experience. He can even promote its spread and encourage pilgrimages to the site of the experience but the Bishop cannot authenticate that the experience is supernatural.  

Prae oculis habeatur – Though there are signs that the spiritual experience is legitimate, there are also certain aspects of it that may be cause concern or confusion.  In this case, then the Bishop should engage in careful discernment and dialogue with those who are receiving the spiritual experience. 

Curatur – The spiritual phenomena is already spreading and producing spiritual benefits. Though a ban on the experience is not recommended, the Vatican in this instance encourages the Bishop to redirect the faithful into alternative forms of spiritual devotion.  

Sub mandato – This category does not address the spiritual phenomena itself but the person or persons who are misusing the phenomena.  This includes that the person(s) are using the phenomena for their own financial gain or they are committing immoral acts.  In this case, the Bishop is encouraged to intervene directly to resolve the situation.

Prohibetur et obstruatur – Even though there are some legitimate and positive aspects of the spiritual phenomena, there are also much greater risks and concerns that are causing or may cause scandal or confusion.  Therefore, the Bishop should publicly prohibit devotion to the phenomena and help the faithful understand the reasons for his prohibition on the phenomena. 

Declaratio de non supernaturalitate – This criteria is the easiest to understand.  On the basis of facts and evidence, the Bishop may declare that the spiritual phenomena is not supernatural.  

You will note that none of the six new criteria authorize a bishop or episcopal conference to approve a supernatural event.  This is a major change in how the Church will evaluate alleged supernatural events.  The power to approve an alleged supernatural event has now been vested solely in the Pope.  

 
Paragraph 23 clearly states this:  “In light of the aforementioned points, it is reaffirmed that, as a rule, neither the Diocesan Bishop, nor the Episcopal Conferences, nor the Dicastery will declare that these phenomena are of supernatural origin, even if a Nihil obstat is granted (cf. Par. 11, above). It remains true, however, that the Holy Father can authorize a special procedure in this regard.”  

 
So the most that the Diocesan Bishop can do is to say that the Holy Spirit may be present and that the faithful may practice devotion to the alleged supernatural event and/or participate in pilgrimages to the site of the event.

 
What does this mean in practical terms?  The new rules give the Diocesan Bishop five new ways to either condemn or discourage an alleged supernatural event, and one way to encourage devotion to the event without approving it, but he is not authorized to approve the event.  Only the Pope can approve an event as supernatural.  

 
The new Vatican rules are a major deviation from how the Church has evaluated supernatural phenomena and a significant restriction in the role of bishops in evaluating supernatural phenomena. 

 
In the third and final of this series of postings, I will examine how the Vatican is already employing the new criteria to evaluate supernatural phenomena.