JUSTICE FOR FATHER JOZO ZOVKO

Father Jozo Zovko

It has been raining the whole day today and I thought of going to bed early tonight. I suddenly thought of Father Jozo Zovko and wanted to read the latest news about him. Instead of sleeping early, I went to the web to get the latest updates on him. When I googled 'Father Jozo Zovko', the first three articles that came out were 1) The “Saint” Jozo Zovko and his Many Sex-Affairs; 2) The Newsletter of Discernment; and 3) Father Jozo Zovko: A Brief Biography. I read through all these three articles. After reading these articles, I felt that I must write something for Father Jozo Zovko.

According to the first article, Father Jozo Zovko has been suspended twice, the first time by Bishop Zanic on 23 August 1989 and the second time by Bishop Peric on 14 June 1994. Why has Father Jozo been suspended on 23 August 1989 by bishop Zanic? Here is a summary of what is stated in this article: In 1986, a Dutch businessman living in Yugoslavia told Mark Waterinckx that Jozo had a special interest in beautiful women. Mark was shocked when he heard such a slander about Jozo. However, more and more rumours of this kind came to his knowledge. In the summer of 1989, an American girl told him how Jozo had asaulted her sexually. The following day, Mark confronted Jozo at Tihaljina with her story. Jozo denied it but he looked pale and said that Mark should not have created such a situation for him as there were many pilgrims waiting for his service at church. The American girl had also told Father Philip Pavic, an American priest, about this incident. Father Pavic then contacted Mark and told him that this kind of accusation against Jozo was nothing new. When Father Pavic told Father Svetozar Kraljevic about Jozo's sex problem, he immediately shouted twice, "He did it again!"

According to the second article, "Most of the Franciscans at Medjugorje do not have faculties since 1979." Here is a short summary of part of this article: The list of Medugorje priests with sexual problems is increasing everyday. Even before the claimed apparitions began, they already had problems with Father Jozo Zovko and Father Tomislav Vlasic. When it comes to women, Father Jozo finds it difficult to keep his hands to himself. He also has an interest in men. Father Vlasic took Agnes Heupel with him to Italy and became the founder of a community where men and women can live together in the name of God. Up to this day, these two priests are still having affairs with both men and women. Then there were Father Vego and Father Prusina who went to Medjugorje after being expelled in 1979 and had affairs with two nuns there. 

How much truth can we find in the above accusations against Father Jozo? Sounds more like a fairy tale to me. Fr. Slavko Soldo, the Franciscan Provincial in Mostar who was also Fr. Jozo's superior said that it wasn't  true that Fr. Jozo was suspended by his Franciscan general because he was a priest in good standing in the community. Further, none of those women has ever told him anything or sent him any accusation letters even though he ought to be the first person to know. Neither did the Bishop tell him anything or send him any letters about this kind of accusation against Jozo. In other words, he had no knowledge of these accusations during his time as Provincial. I will not comment on Father Vlasic, Father Vego, and Father Prusina here as this article is not about them but my readers can always google their names if they want to find out more about them.

Who is the real Father Jozo Zovko anyway? He was the parish priest of St. James' Church in Medjugorje during the early days of the apparitions in 1981. As a deeply spiritual priest, he spends many hours praying in the Church every day. Because of his strong faith and great devotion to God, he has become an important figure in the Church and gained enormous influence in the various parishes where he was assigned. Although he is not an artiste, Father Jozo seems to be everyone's beloved priest and has many fans throughout the world because of his inspiring talks and writings. Every year, millions of pilgrims flock to the Franciscan Monastery in Siroki Brijeg to meet him, listen to his inspiring words, and to be touched by him. If he were really a sex maniac as described by the first two articles mentioned above, do you think the pilgrims would still take the trouble to go and see him? 

The first article described him as the 'saint' with many sex affairs. How ridiculous! Father Jozo Zovko has never called himself a saint. The word 'saint' is used to describe him because he lives a saintly life every day, performing the numerous responsibilities and duties of a priest with dedication. And how many sex affairs did he have? Any evidence? Who were these ladies who were supposed to have been molested by him? We don't even know if these accusations were true. His superior, Father Slavko Soldo, has no knowledge of these accusations as they have never been brought to his attention. 

Have we ever asked ourselves the question, "What has Father Jozo been doing all these years?" Did he get married or elope with a blonde and is now enjoying a wonderful sex life with his wife? Did he ever pester the Pope to allow him to get married? No, he didn't. All these years, he has lived a life of sacrifice and service sincerely and given us his undivided attention. Isn't that enough? This is what we all see with our eyes. But have we ever seen any of his sexual affairs with our eyes? Father Jozo has never left the priesthood to get married nor does he have a girlfriend. As we can see, he continues to live a celibate life today. After all those accusations against him, he probably dare not go near a woman again! To me, he is much more respectable than those men who left the priesthood to get married and then criticize the Catholic Church for not allowing priests to marry.

Even if those accusations against him were true (though many would doubt the authenticity of these accusations), they have already faded into the past. How long ago was that? Is it fair to dig into someone's past, something that they want to forget? What is more important is the present. In the present, Father Jozo is a good priest and he is well respected and loved by many of the faithful throughout the world. Try asking around and you will find that no one believes in those unfounded accusations!

Lastly, the allegation that "Most of the Franciscans at Medjugorje do not have faculties since 1979" is certainly an exaggeration. It is like punishing the whole class when a few students in that class created mischief! Those who have been to Medjugorje will be surprised to see how deeply religious the pilgrims can turn out to be. Even those who seldom pray or go to Church will suddenly find themselves attending Church every day and praying the rosary everywhere. I have seen many pilgrims praying the rosary on their way to St. James Church, while climbing Podbrdo Hill and Mount Krizevac, and even when they were just walking to the shops. These are the fruits of Medjugorje and, needless to say, good fruits come from good trees. Many lives have been changed for the better by Medjugorje. As good role models, the Franciscans in Medjugorje have done a good job by bringing the faithful closer to God. The Church in Medjugorje is very well organised and the pilgrims are well looked after - to me, it is the safest place on earth. Each time I look at the Franciscans during the Medjugorje Evening Prayer Programme, I feel very proud them. Medjugorje is truly a place of peace, tranquillity, miracles, healings. conversions, and spiritual renewal.

You may also like to read FATHER JOZO ZOVKO - A GOOD PRIEST and THE SAINTLY PRISONER: FATHER JOZO ZOVKO. To view the content page of this blog, please click here. There is a complete list about my articles about Medjugorje on this page.

References:

1.  The 'Saint" Jozo Zovko and his Many Sex-Affairs. Unity Publishing.

2.  The Newsletter of Discernment: The Fruits at Medjugorje. Unity Publishing.