Catholic Church decides against Mary miracle declaration

The Catholic Archbishop of Perth has declared that the "Weeping Mary" statue of Rockingham does not constitute a miracle.

Thousands flocked to view the fibreglass statue after it started shedding oily tears in March last year.

Pilgrims made donations amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

Now, a Church Commission of Inquiry says it shouldn't be declared a miracle, because other, more earth-bound explanations couldn't be ruled out.