Expert Answer Forum
Vassula Ryden QUESTION from Marilyn July 30, 2000 Can you tell us anything about Vassula Rhyden. Does she have any error is what she is proclaiming? Thanks.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, O.L.S.M. on October 15, 2000 Dear Marilyn:
As far as I know a final determination has not been made about Vassula Ryden, but it does not look good for her.
Here is an official Vatican Information Service Press Release concerning her status which is rather definitive, if not technically an official declaration:
NOTE ISSUED ON DOCTRINAL ERRORS BY GREEK-ORTHODOX SWISS RESIDENT ================================================= VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 1995 (VIS) - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued a notice in answer to queries by bishops, priests, religious and the laity regarding the activity of Vassula Ryden, Greek Orthodox, resident in Switzerland, who is spreading, in Catholic circles throughout the world, with her words and her writings, messages attributed to alleged heavenly revelations. Released today, the notice is dated October 6. It points out that a serene and attentive examination of the whole question was undertaken by this congregation...Other than pointing out the suspect character of the ways in which such alleged revelations occur, it is (our) duty to underline several doctrinal errors contained in them. It specifies several errors: ambiguous language regarding the Trinity; an imminent period of predomination of the anti-Christ within the Church and in the near future a Church which would be a type of pan-Christian community, in contrast with the Catholic doctrine. In addition, Mrs. Ryden, by participating habitually in the sacraments of the Catholic Church, though she is Greek Orthodox, causes not a small amount of amazement in diverse Church milieux....This Congregation asks that bishops intervene in order to adequately inform their faithful, and to see that no space be given in their dioceses to the spreading of her ideas. OP/NOTICE/CDF:SWITZERLAND:RYDEN VIS 951023(220) Given this decision by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it would be imprudent for any Catholic to be following Vassula Ryden until such time that a final decision is made.
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