Vatican Tightens Rules on Probing Miracles
The Facts
The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released stricter rules on determining whether alleged supernatural or miraculous things actually occurred. This comes as such claims have reportedly skyrocketed in the age of social media.
The new declaration, released on Friday, states that "the Church needs clear procedures," adding that the new rules "are not intended to control or (even less) stifle the Spirit." It also noted that it is not intended to deny all claims of alleged supernatural apparitions.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Church is correct in its cautious but still respectful attitude toward miracles. The most important thing for Catholics to believe in, which is a miracle in and of itself, is Jesus Christ. The rest, which are rare for a reason, are only periodic reminders of his existence. Catholics don't need lots of miracles to have a strong faith, but they are certainly helpful reinforcements.
Narrative B
While belief in miracles is an innocent tradition for many Catholics, it doesn't mean you must or should take them seriously. Even regarding Jesus' miracles, theologians have claimed that they were more symbolic than factual. Whatever your belief, you don't need to believe in, let alone live by the idea that miracles are real.
