The Position of the Archdiocese of Gwangju in relation to the Matter of 'Naju Phenomena'(preamble)

Even though it already had been forbidden to celebrate the mass or the liturgy and to minister the sacrament in any private place related to Julia Youn through the Notification published by Archbishop Youn Kong-hi in 1998 and Decree by Archbishop Choi Chang-mou in 2008, it has rarely been upheld by some people.

Accordingly, I have sent the request for the permission to announce the Pastoral Notification of Archbishop to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to define the position of the Church about the matter of so-called Naju Phenomena in September 9th 2010.

In March 30th 2011, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith approved the Archbishop of Gwangju to publish the Pastoral Notification about Naju Phenomena through the letter (Prot. N. 112/1993-35015). In this letter, the Congregation stated "The examples which have been communicated to the Congregation by followers of Julia seem to have little connection with Christian piety." And it is also recognized that it would be a prudent pastoral action to publish the prepared Notification while mentioning the fact "the Holy See has no plan to change its position in regard to the purported miraculous events at Naju." For this reason, we clearly assure once again that the Holy See and the Archdiocese of Gwangju have the exact same position.

At the same time, it says, it would be appropriate to encourage our priests to offer the faithful entrusted to their care appropriate Eucharistic and Marian devotions in accord with the discipline and practice of the Church for their spiritual enrichment.

Therefore, I, the present Ordinary of Gwanju Archdiocese, publish the Notification regarding the so-called 'Naju Phenomena' after consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, all Catholics should follow the pastoral guidelines that has been mentioned in the Notification published by Archbishop Youn and in the Decree by Archbishop Choi in connection with Naju Phenomena.

Notification of the Ordinary of the Archdiocese

of Gwangju in Korea

In relation to the matter of so-called Naju Phenomena

Recently, numbers of Catholics nationwide have found themselves confused and deceived by increasingly diffused propaganda concerning matters related to the so-called 'Second Holy Eucharistic miracle in the Vatican' (April 2010). The Archdiocese of Gwangju, however, continues to maintain that there is no change in its decisions nor in its series of statements relating to the matters connected with the so-called Naju phenomena.

It also appears that there are some people who are attempting to confuse and deceive Catholics by claiming Vatican support for their position. They would claim that official approval is coming in the immediate future supporting their position with regard to these allegations and assertions. There has, however, been no change in the Holy See's attitude toward these matters as can be seen from the letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued on 23 April 2008 (Prot. N. 112/1993-27066). Among other things, this letter noted that "The Congregation continues to accept the decision given by Archbishop Youn, and reiterated by Your Grace in your statements on the matter, as the official position of the Church." This is the position that I, the present Ordinary of Gwanju Archdiocese, confirmed in July 2010 when I personally visited the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

I assure all Korean Catholics that, in relation to this matter of the so-called Naju Phenomena, I have direct contact with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a Dicastery of the Holy See, which is the only competent Office of the Holy See witch deals with these questions.

May 1, 2011

부활 제2주일 하느님의 자비주일에

Archdiocese of Kwangju

Archbishop Hyginus KIM Hee-joong

• 김대주교님공지문(2011.5.1,영).hwp