Czech Jesuits move against Rupnik's Aletti Centre

Now Pope Francis is dead, all protection gone

Statement of the Czech Province of the Society of Jesus on the Aletti Center

Tuesday, 10.6.2025

Olomouc. After considering the situation surrounding the Olomouc Aletti Center, the leadership of the Czech Province of the Society of Jesus decided to take several measures in response to doctrinally questionable texts originating from this environment, to reports of sectarian manifestations and spiritual manipulation. The new provincial therefore dismissed the current director. At the same time, an investigation was launched at the Refugium publishing house with the aim of removing the dubious titles from distribution.

Recently, disturbing facts have come to light regarding the Olomouc Aletti Center and, in particular, the community of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SJVS), which was closely linked to them. Several publications have been published by the Refugium publishing house that raise many questions and are doctrinally questionable. Their source is the supposed private revelations of Kateřina Klosová, which some Czech Jesuits have also begun to accept.

Although the SJVS community gives the impression that it comes from the environment of Czech Jesuits and their collaborators, the Czech Province of the Society of Jesus categorically distances itself from this community and the texts that were created on the basis of the alleged revelations to Kateřina Klosová and does not wish to be associated with them in any way. The work of the SJVS is not and never has been the work of the Jesuit order. Praying for priests is undoubtedly beneficial, but this good effort cannot be associated with ideas that are at least doctrinally controversial. Moreover, the community manifests itself in a sectarian manner and causes division and discord in local churches. Therefore, it can hardly be perceived as the work of the Holy Spirit.

Nor can one agree with the manifestations of spiritual manipulation that some members of the SJVS have repeatedly committed. We also consider the defense of former Jesuit Marek Ivan Rupnik, accused of inappropriate behavior towards thirty people, to be completely unacceptable. We do not agree with the trivialization of his misconduct and we reject the belittling of those who came forward as Rupnik's victims, as has repeatedly happened in the incriminated books of the Refugium publishing house. We also reject the problematic and one-sided statements about private and public figures, many very dubious statements of a spiritual and theological nature and doctrinally controversial formulations that can be found on the pages of the aforementioned publications.

Steps we have taken to remedy the situation:

On Monday, May 26, 2025, the newly appointed Father Pavel Bačo SJ assumed the office of Provincial of the Czech Province of the Society of Jesus as Superior General. He subsequently:

1/ He dismissed the current director of the Aletti Center and the superior of the Olomouc community and appointed their temporary successors.

2/ He has initiated an investigation at the Refugium publishing house. The questionable publications will be removed from distribution and their list will be published on the website of the Czech Province of the Society of Jesus so that those who are in possession of these publications can familiarize themselves with it.

The above steps, taken in co-operation with the headquarters of the order in Rome, are only the beginning of the path to resolving the entire situation.

The SJVS community will now be subject to an investigation in the spirit of canon law with the aim of examining its position and considering further action by the church authorities. Until the relevant church authorities have responsibly evaluated the entire situation, we recommend that all members of the community turn to their local spiritual directors or other priests working in the pastoral care for all matters of spiritual accompaniment.

As Czech Jesuits, we sincerely apologize to all those to whom members of our order have caused spiritual harm in connection with the false mysticism of the SJVS and the Aletti Center. We will be grateful for testimonies that will help shed light on the context of the whole matter. At the same time, we ask for prayer and patience.

Fr. Pavel Bačo SJ, Provincial

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