Bishop Peric at it Again

Bishop Peric's latest activities echo loudly his activities during the Mostar Affair. His latest sermon, recorded here, could have been very similar to the sermon given by Bishop Zanic immediately after his inauguration as new Bishop of Mostar in 1980, when he announced his plan to carve up the Franciscan monastic parishes and essentially drive the Franciscans out of "his" territory.

Peric carried on Zanic's legacy and, upon taking office in 1993, drew violent reactions from the local parishioners by his inflammatory comments and actions, which included refusing to allow Franciscan refugees, whose monastery was destroyed during the Bosnian conflict, to shelter in the suburb of Cim because it had become a secular parish. The reactions against Bishop Peric from the local community included physical violence and they did everything they could to stop this man from having his own way with their beloved shepherds, the Franciscans. Eventually, Peric, with an iron hand succeeded in driving the Franciscans completely out of the Mostar and indeed beyond.

People in Bosnia are probably used to Bishop Peric's antics by now and show a lot more restraint. The local Franciscans and visionaries are certainly dong their best to show obedience despite attacks that none should expect from a Bishop. The visionaries pray ardently for the bishop.

Bishop Peric said:

"Gradually we have been able to distance the 'apparitions' and 'messages' from
the parish church and church environs."

This type of talk sounds all too familiar and I, for one, feel extremely sorry for the Franciscans for what they have had to endure for centuries now, ever since the seculars arrived in the region.

We need not take much else from Peric's speech. He is reiterating only what is contained in the Zadar Declaration, i.e. that before the Vatican has had a chance to conclude its investigations, one should not spread the message that Medjugorje is approved.

It is unfortunate that the opposite doesn't seem to apply in the mind of the Bishop and his supporters, i.e. that one should also not CONDEMN the apparition before the Vatican has had a chance to conclude its investigations.

If we are to know a person by his fruits, let the intelligent unbiassed reader be the judge when someone like Bishop Peric is placed alongside someone like the visionary Vicka.