Catholics ordered to keep quiet over Virgin visions

Independent, UK

Catholics who claim they have seen the Virgin Mary will be forced to remain silent about the apparitions until a team of psychologists, theologians, priests and exorcists have fully investigated their claims under new Vatican guidelines aimed at stamping out false claims of miracles.

The Pope has instructed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Holy Office of the Inquisition, to draw up a new handbook to help bishops snuff out an explosion of bogus heavenly apparitions.

... there's more after the click.

My comment: About damned time!

But the part of the article I liked the best is the "Catch 22":

"According to Petrus, an Italian online magazine which leans towards conservative elements in the Vatican, anyone who claims to have seen an apparition will only be believed as long as they remain silent and do not court publicity over their claims. If they refuse to obey, this will be taken as a sign that their claims are false."

So, if you report it to the Holy Office of the Inquisition Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then you're ultimately looking for confirmation and the publicity that goes with it, therefore ... if you're talking it up ...