Latest update In 1995, the Catholic Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) published a Notification (a message from the Holy See) on the writings of Rydén, saying her communications should not be considered supernatural, and calling all Catholic bishops to prevent Rydén’s ideas from being spread in their dioceses.

[Source: http://www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vassula_Ryden]

Important update regarding Church position (March 2005): The TLIG association is claiming that the Church has recently modified it’s position regarding the writings of Mrs. Ryden and suggesting that the Notification is no longer valid. This is not true. Please read our updated “Church Position” page, which includes the text of Card. Ratzinger’s July 2004 letter as well as our correspondence with the Conference of Swiss Bishops confirming that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has NOT modified its position regarding TLIG and that the 1995 Notification remains valid.

The True Catholic Church’s position regarding
the Vassula Ryden’s “True Life in God” messages.

(January 2006): The Los Angeles Cathedral decided to withdraw the invitation to play host to a Christian unity conference that would have been under the auspices of Vassula Ryden’s “True Life in God” organization. Msgr. Devin Kostelnik, pastor of the Cathedral of Los Angeles declared that the decision was “final and not subject to change” and that the withdrawal had been done with the approval of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles.

Kostelnik also wrote that the organizers’ argument that the Vatican had cleared Ryden’s writings was “a serious misrepresentation of the current Vatican view of Mrs. Ryden’s speeches and writings” and that the 1995 and 1996 Vatican warnings remained in “full force”.

Official Position of the Catholic Church:
Notification of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Cardinal Ratzinger’s 1996 Press release regarding the Notification

We are of course aware that Mrs. Ryden’s official website presents an impressive list of documents affirming the exact contrary, including letters from some Bishops and priests, most of whom are long-time supporters of TLIG. We do not doubt of their good faith. However, the evidence we present hereunder clearly indicates that, although the CDF did exchange correspondence with Vassula from 2002 to 2004, the result was not a modification or a reversal of the Notification.

Recent developments (February 2005): The Conference of Swiss Bishops confirms to us that the July 2004 letter is NOT a modification of the CDF’s position.

In January 2005, the TLIG association announced that former Cardinal Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict XVI – had written a letter dated July 2004 addressed to the Presidents of 5 Episcopal Conferences (Switzerland, Uruguay, France, Canada and the Philippines) who had voiced concerns regarding the writings and activities of Vassula Ryden. A copy of this letter was given to Mrs. Ryden, but it has not been published by the CDF. The TLIG association affirms that the letter contains a positive modification of the CDF’s position regarding Mrs. Ryden’s writings, and some have even suggested that the Notification is no longer valid. We requested to see a copy of this letter, but different TLIG sources have systematically refused it to us, saying that it is at this time the decision of Mrs. Ryden to provide it only to bishops and priests, together with other documents that “help” understand the meaning of the letter. At a later date, the booklet with all these documents would be sold to all those interested in having it. (Update September 2005: In the meantime, on September 8, 2005, the text of the July 2004 letter was finally published on the official TLIG website, together with the other documents of the booklet).

We have therefore written to the Episcopal Conference of Switzerland asking for confirmation of the above. Here is the answer we received from the Secretary General of the Conférence des Eveques Suisses (CES) on February 23rd, 2005 (the original email is in French):

Some days letter I received the position of the CES, which was a copy of the 1995 Notification.

Latest update (March 2005): Text of the July 2004 Letter signed by (former) Card. Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.

When Vassula received a copy of the July 2004 letter, it was accompanied by a letter signed by the Under Secretary of the CDF Fr. De Noia, in which he indicated that he was sending her a copy of the letter for her information. The use that the TLIG association is making of the correspondence with the CDF, presenting it as a reversal of the Church’s position regarding Mrs Ryden’s writings, is clearly abusive. If the CDF had reversed it’s position, it would have informed the Universal Church (and not only 5 episcopal conferences) through a publication in one of the official media of the Church, such as L’Osservatore Romano (where the Notification was originally published in 1995) or the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (AAS).

Some recent comments regarding the Catholic Church’s position on TLIG

Critics have challenged the authenticity of Vassula’s supposed messages from God because she has changed some of them over time. Vassula (…) told The Times in a 1995 interview that God gave her permission to make such changes. She said it was possible for a perfect God to regret something he said, just as he regretted creating a race that would fall from grace.” (Read the complete article at: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-visionary10jan10,1,4003585.story and also http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/13593558.htm)

The Catholic Church in Scotland warns about Vassula (September 6, 2005): A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland has warned people against going to Vassula’s September 11th meeting in Edinburgh. Referring to the 1995 Notification, he said Vassula “certainly did not” operate with the approval of the Church and that “the advice to Catholics is not to attend her gatherings due to the suspect nature of her alleged revelations, which contain doctrinal errors.” The complete article can be read at: http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1898192005

EWTN – Catholic Q&A: Answering two questions regarding the Church’s position on Vassula Ryden (March and October 2004), EWTN expert Colin B. Donovan answered: “Despite efforts and claims by her supporters and promoters that these judgements [1995 Notification and 1996 Press Release] are under review, or no longer apply, the Holy See has not changed its position on her writings, nor its instructions to bishops regarding her conferences and activities, which must NOT be hosted or promoted by Catholic entities or officials.” He also pointed out that “The CDF issued the Notifications publicly (in L’Osservatore Romano and the Acta Apostolicae Sedis) and would have to just as publicly rescind them.” (Read the whole answers at: http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/search.asp?source=/vexperts/conference.htm indicating as keyword “Vassula” and year “2004”).

Catholic Apologetics International: Extract of M. Forrest’s answer to the question: “Was Vassula condemned by the Church?” (February 2005): “In this day and age, wherein the Vatican has adapted a very liberal, accepting posture toward the world, other religions, etc, I think wisdom and prudence would dictate that, if anything, we should AMPLIFY the implications of such Vatican warnings, rather than look for ways to mitigate them. There seems to be very little that is rejected as unacceptable these days. In my opinion, until such time as the Church tells us that Vassula’s writings are perfectly safe, we ought to view them very skeptically, as potentially dangerous, if we bother to view them at all. 98% or 99% safe is just not good enough. The Adversary works most effectively in that little 1-2%.” Read the whole answer at:
http://www.catholicintl.com/qa/2005/qa-feb-05.htm#Question%2069

Brother Ignatius Mary of the Order of the Legion of Saint Michael, answering a question regarding the validity of the Notification (December 2004): “There has been no reversal of the decision that Ryden’s writings are not from a supernatural source. The 1999 interview with Cardinal Ratzinger also did not reverse the negative decision about Ryden’s writings, it merely pointed out that “technically” her writings are not condemned because “…from the strictly procedural point of view, no person may be condemned without a trial and without being given the opportunity to air their views first. What we say is that there are many things which are not clear”. The Cardinal continues, “Her writings contain many good things but the grain and the chaff are mixed up. That is why we invited Catholic faithful to view it all with a prudent eye and to measure it by the yardstick of the constant faith of the Church.” (…) To date, however, the negative decision as to the legitimacy of her writings having a heavenly source has not been rescinded. The warning of the 1995 Notification remains in force.” Read the whole answer at: http://www.saint-mike.org/qa/FS/ViewAnswer.asp?QID=355

Christian Order – Article by Father Peter-Joseph of Wagga Wagga, Australia, has a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and is currently the Chancellor of the Maronite Diocese of Australia. Here’s an extract from “Apparitions True and False” (January 2005): “From my article, the reader should realise that Cardinal Ratzinger’s private, or public comments – even if authentic – cannot undo a decree of the Holy Office. Only a new decree can undo an old decree – not an interview given to the press! Even the Pope’s personal opinions and beliefs have no authority, and cannot be cited to override Church law or doctrine. As I said in my article, the Church is governed by public statements and promulgated laws, not by personal interviews or private communications. Even if there is further, or a new investigation, all Catholics are still held to the only official judgement hitherto given, which is negative.”