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Fatima Center Renews Call for Release of
"Third Secret"
Successive
Delays Raise Concerns About Vatican Intentions
MAY 24, 2000 - FORT ERIE, ONTARIO: Delays by
Vatican officials have prompted the Fatima Center to renew its call for release
of the original text of the “Third Secret” of Fatima. The Fatima
Center is a major Catholic organization that promotes the Message of Fatima,
and publishes a quarterly magazine, The Fatima Crusader.
“We hope and
pray that the Holy Father’s order will be followed strictly by publishing
the original document in its entirety,” said Father Nicholas Gruner, who
heads the Fort Erie-based organization. “The only way to end all
speculation about the Secret is to publish Sister Lucia’s original
handwritten text,” he added.
Sister Lucia dos Santos, now 93 and residing in a
Portuguese convent, is the only surviving witness to the Fatima apparitions,
which occurred in 1917. Her text of the “Third Secret,” written in
1944, was to be published in 1960, but has been withheld by successive Popes
ever since that date. The surprise announcement last week that it would finally
be released has been followed by a series of delays.
After the
announcement, Italian newspapers with extensive Vatican contacts reported that
it would be published “in a few days.” Later, the same sources
reported the release date would be “by the end of May.” Now, the Rome
newspaper La Repubblica has quoted high ranking Cardinal Josef Ratzinger as
postponing the publication to the middle of June, in order to allow more time
for the preparation of an official commentary.
These delays are
arousing concerns among Catholics long opposed to the 40-year suppression of
the Secret. Father Paul Kramer, another Catholic priest at the Fatima Center,
explained: “We’re puzzled as to why we must wait for an official
commentary. The first two parts of the Secret are quite clear in what they say
and predict. It does not seem likely that the Third Part is so obscure that it
requires deciphering by a team of experts. Our Lady of Fatima did not speak in
riddles.”
“Prompt release of a photographic reproduction of the original
manuscript--as was done with the first two parts of the Secret--is the only way
to disclose fully what has been repressed and hidden under lock and key for so
long,” added Father Kramer.
Vatican officials have not indicated whether they intend
to provide authentic copies of the original manuscript.
Contact
Father Nicholas Gruner or Father Paul Kramer
The Fatima Center, 452 Kraft Road, Fort Erie, Ontario L2A
4M7
(905) 871-7607, Ext. 103.
The Fatima Center, home of
The Fatima Crusader, is the largest, worldwide Fatima apostolate campaigning
for the promotion of the full message of Fatima, for the release of the Third
Secret and for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Its
outreach includes the print media, Internet, radio and television. More
information on the Third Secret, and on what Cardinal Oddi and Cardinal
Ratzinger have said previously about is contents, is on our website.
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