On May 19, the Roman Catholic Church introduced new norms aimed at more effectively distinguishing supernatural phenomena from natural occurrences. This move addresses the growing need to quickly evaluate the origins of various phenomena, which are increasingly reported within the Catholic community and shared widely through social media.
Supernatural phenomena under scrutiny include apparitions of Jesus or the Virgin Mary, voices, messages from beyond, weeping or bleeding of sacred images, and bleeding of consecrated Eucharistic hosts. While visions of the Virgin Mary, in particular, continue to be reported regularly within Catholic circles, the new document neither endorses nor outright rejects any supernatural claims. Instead, it sets forth criteria and processes for the church to officially distinguish between authentic and fake phenomena.
Replacing an older document from 1978, which left decisions largely in the hands of local diocesan bishops, the new norms centralize control within the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. This central body, formerly known as "the Inquisition," will now oversee the validation of all supernatural events. The new guidelines introduce a six-tier classification system ranging from “nihil obstat” (nothing stands in the way) to “declaratio de non supernaturalitate” (declaration of non-supernaturality), aiming to provide a more nuanced evaluation process.
The procedures involve an investigative commission that conducts a thorough "trial" of the phenomenon, examining witness testimonies, expert analyses, and doctrinal orthodoxy. Positive criteria include the reputation and ethical rectitude of those involved, while negative criteria focus on potential fakery, doctrinal errors, and unethical motivations. Ultimately, the Dicastery makes the final judgment, which local bishops are obliged to implement and make public.
According to the nonprofit news organization The Conversation, these new norms are likely to reduce the number of phenomena recognized as “supernatural.” While the Vatican emphasizes the importance of combating misinformation and disinformation, the effect may be to place stricter limits on what is considered divine intervention. In essence, the church is moving towards "disenchanting" the world rather than further enchanting it with claims of the supernatural.