Response from Father Bob Bedard, C.C. (Letters to the Editor).

I guess I should be flattered that Ms. Joy remembers things I said twenty years ago. I had no idea those simple words would have such long-lasting effect.

My purpose in writing "Lex Orandi..." was not to promote or defend Medjugorje, nor was it related to anything except to encourage us to do whatever we can to promote belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Ms. Joy seems to have missed the point completely.

She seems hung up on surveys. Do we really need such to know that serious sin has undergone a major decline in some locales? How about the word of the pastors? And to ascertain belief in an article of faith like the Eucharist, one has only to observe the respectful behaviour people have toward it.

At no time did I ever speak or write in dogmatic fashion about Medjugorje. I simply expressed my opinion and made clear my submission to the competent Church authority that would judge the authenticity of such things as reported apparitions.

When the Croatian bishops issued their statement on Medjugorje some years ago, I stopped commenting on the phenomenon altogether and have never taken up the subject again. As I recall, the bishops said simply that, after prayer and study, they could not verify any supernatural component to the reported apparitions. As far as I know, they never referred to them as spurious. They asked that no national or diocesan pilgrimages be undertaken to the site. But, they said, if Medjugorje attracts private pilgrims, pastoral care should be provided.

I was quite convinced in the beginning that the apparitions were authentic. However, in the light of the Church's stand, I can't now be sure.

One thing, nonetheless, is clear. Large numbers of people are being touched by the Lord's grace in Medjugorje. I have personally met several who have had very genuine conversions to Christ and to the Church, as well as a surprising number of young men who have heard there the Lord's call to the priesthood and have followed it up. I'm certainly not about to knock that.

I have been to Medjugorje three times '83, '84, '86. Most of my time there was very edifying. However, in 1986, a sour note was struck by a small group of people from B.C. who were very rude and disruptive. They embarrassed everyone else, especially Canadians like myself. I'm wondering if Ms. Joy knows the rather cult-like little band who followed their very strange leader, he who later denounced me to Cardinal Ratzinger. Perhaps she was part of it?

At any rate, if we will all profess our faith in the real, substantial presence of Jesus in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar and act accordingly, maybe the Church can begin to make a comeback in this very wounded land. That's the point I wanted to make.