UPDATE
August 22, 2008

On July 2, 2008, Archbishop Andrew Chang-Mou Choi of the Kwangju Archdiocese visited the Blessed Mother’s Mountain and the Chapel in Naju together with several priests and lay people.  On the mountain and in the Chapel, the Archbishop had some pleasant and kind conversations with the pilgrims and volunteer helpers.  Before leaving, he said, “I have not prohibited you from praying,” and “Receive abundant grace and the Holy Spirit.”  Many people in Naju were surprised and puzzled by this sudden visit by the Archbishop.  Had he not issued several Declarations and a Decree to stop the pilgrimages even with the threat of automatic excommunication?  After the Archbishop’s visit, one of the volunteer helpers jokingly said, “The Archbishop made a visit to Naju and, therefore, he is excommunicated (according to his Decree).”

Archbishop Andrew Chang-Mou Choi of the Kwangju Archdiocese visiting the Blessed Mother’s Chapel in Naju on July 2, 2008.  The priests who accompanied the Archbishop had a stern and threatening face.

Archbishop Choi looking at the photos in the Chapel

Archbishop Choi entering the Blessed Mother’s Chapel (7-2-08)

Only about a month later in mid-August, we heard the information that explained the reason for the Archbishop’s sudden visit.  As Korea is still considered a mission territory with less than 10 percent of the population being Catholics, it is the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (formerly, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith) at the Holy See that is the highest authority under the Pope over the Catholic Church in Korea.  When all the Bishops in Korea (30 of them) made their ad limina visit to the Holy See last November, Cardinal Ivan Dias, the Prefect of the this Congregation, strongly urged the Korean Bishops to accept Naju.  It has been understood that Cardinal Dias is in union with the Holy Father regarding Naju.  In late February 2008, Cardinal Dias also sent an urgent letter to the Bishops’ Conference in Korea to block the opponents’ attempt to have the Bishops’ Conference issue a new declaration to oppose Naju.  Actually, only a few of the Korean Bishops are real opponents of Naju.  There also are many liberal priests who oppose Naju.  Then, in mid-August, we received this information from a highly reliable source in Rome that Cardinal Dias had sent another letter to Archbishop of Kwangju saying that “your restrictions do not apply to the pilgrims of Naju, as the events in Naju are considered private revelations” and also that “your restrictions on Fr. Aloysius Chang should be lifted.”

Archbishop Choi has not taken any formal actions to comply with the instructions from the Holy See, but only made the above-mentioned visit to Naju and made some comments that could be perceived as a lifting of his previous restrictions on the pilgrims.  This, of course, is not satisfactory, as the restrictions imposed by official documents can only be fully and formally removed by issuing new official documents.  Until that happens, all the faithful in the world should know about this significant change in the attitude of the local diocese toward Naju and need not have any qualms about making pilgrimages there or spreading the information about it.  The highest proper authority in the Holy See regarding Naju is firmly supportive with Naju, even though most of the clergy in Korea are still keeping silence about it.  Since the spring of 2008, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Holy See has been examining the huge pile of data on Naju and is expected to make some important announcement some time after this summer vacation in Rome regarding the authenticity or no authenticity of Naju as well as of the opposing statements of the Kwangju Archdiocese.  Please do not be annoyed by the intense opposition in the local churches or hindered by it in your missionary efforts, as the false accusations, slanders, and persecution are the hallmarks of the true witnesses of the Lord.  In His message in Naju on September 22, 1995, Our Lord complained that the precious words of His Mother in the past centuries (at Lourdes, Fatima, and so on) have not been heeded by most people and this has been why there are so many errors and sins in the world and even among the numerous members of the Church.  Let us make a firm resolution not to repeat this mistake by becoming truly loyal to and following the Lord’s Will being manifested in Naju.  May the blessings of the Lord and the Blessed Mother be with you!   

—    Benedict Sang M. Lee, Editor