
Pope Francis approved of the new Vatican regulations
Officials have recently announced new Vatican regulations, meant to determine some conditions on healing works. Only according to them can such a procedure be called a miracle or not, as well as the person performing it can be called a saint. Pope Francis agreed to introduce the new rules in order to make sure that no one commits fraud.
One of the new rules is that a special committee must verify an act which is claimed to be a healing miracle. The board consists of six medical experts, and their task is to determine whether they face a miracle or an act of science, with a rational explanation. Two-thirds of the members must vote in favor of the miracle so that the Vatican can qualify it as such.
Under the new Vatican regulations, an alleged miracle can only be re-examined three times. Additional committees are formed, and a new verdict should be assigned to the case. If the experts’ decision is negative for three times in a row, the person who claims to have made a miracle is not allowed to take further action.
Some of the new Vatican regulations apply to the board of medical experts as well. They get paid for their examinations, but the cash payment is now out of the question. They will only be remunerated via bank transfer. Now they shouldn’t be given, nor should they receive cash payment.
Verifying a healing act is a process which must be kept in secret. There is another rule which must be obeyed by the medical experts and the person claiming to be a saint. According to theis rule, the two parts must not be in contact.
The announcement about new Vatican regulations was made on Friday, September 23. Church authorities have been working on the new set of rules for a year. Now they face the results of their work, which started one year ago.
A person who claims to have made a miracle can be qualified as a saint. The process is called canonization, and it is specific for several Churches, including the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodoxy Church. Performing miracles, dying as a martyr or having a chaste, withdraw existence, governed by good deeds, all lead to the process of sainthood.
Authorities from Vatican agreed on this new regulations in order to make sure that they always make right and wise decisions.
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