Alabama Virgin Mary Shine: Next Catholic Pilgrimage Site?

[SecularMotion]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) Could a Virgin Mary statue under a pine tree in the middle of a cow pasture in rural Alabama one day become an officially recognized international pilgrimage site of the Roman Catholic Church?

Yes, it could, said Michael D. Murphy, chairman of the anthropology department and a professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama who has specialized in studying the role of Virgin Mary apparitions in the Catholic Church.

"Without a doubt," Murphy said. "Some very unusual places have ended up becoming pilgrimage sites."

Marija Lunetti, the visionary who has been reporting daily visions of the Virgin Mary since she was a teenager in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, had two outdoors apparitions in a field under a pine tree in Shelby County, Ala., during a highly publicized "five days of prayer" July 1-5 at Caritas of Birmingham.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/alabama-virgin-mary-shine_n_1681330.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

[madrchsod]

1. "where`s waldo"?

[trotsky]

2. Sure, if they thought it would raise money or boost membership...

they'd declare my left nut a pilgrimage site.

[Odin2005]

3. Don't the Baptist nuts down there hate Catholics?

[dimbear]

4. It would be a nice gesture if atheists would pony up and get Marija an MRI.

Seems called for.