Controversy by Anglican bishop and antimineras banners at Mass by Monsignor Romero in El Salvador

The Apostolic Nunciature in El Salvador rejected the irregularities that occurred on Monday during the Mass for the 45th anniversary of the murder of Archbishop San Oscar Romero.

The celebration, made in the chapel where Romero was killed while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, included the unauthorized presence of an Anglican bishop on the altar and banners against mining, violating the Catholic liturgical norms.

In several photos disseminated by the Salvadoran media You can see an Anglican bishop behind the altar; to the bishop of the Ancient Salvadoran Catholic Church and anti -tiny activist, Neftalí Ruiz; to the celebrant bishop, Mons. Oswaldo Estefano Escobar Aguilar; Already Mons. Raúl Vera, Bishop Emeritus of Saltillo (Mexico).

In some of the photos too They look in front of the altar banners with the phrases “every mine pollutes. No to mining, yes to life” and “freedom to environmental defenders”, among other slogans.

The pronouncement of the Nunciature in El Salvador

In a statement published on Monday after the Mass, the Apostolic Nunciature in El Salvador said that “the ecumenical celebrations that are shared with members of non -Catholic churches, provide only the liturgy of the word and the comment of it, together with prayers of the faithful and the prayer that our Lord taught us: our Father.”

In addition and according to liturgical norms, the text continues, “it should be taken into account that the altar is reserved only for the Eucharistic celebration.”

“What happened this morning in the Hospitalito Chapel should not be done because it is prohibited by ecclesiastical law,” concludes the statement without going into details.

Sources of the Archbishopric of San Salvador, who asked not to be identified, told ACI Press that the banners were not authorized and that they were put at the end of the Mass. Regarding the presence of the Anglican and Ruiz “bishop”, they stressed that the Nunciature has already pronounced about its statement.

ACI Press contacted this Tuesday with the Archbishop’s office of San Salvador, Mons. José Luis Escobar, to consult him about the irregularities of the Mass of March 24. In an email sent today his secretary said that “unfortunately to Mr. Archbishop, he had more commitments than he already planned and will be outside the city, so an apology for not being able to collaborate with the application.”

The 908 canon of the Canon Law Code, the law that regulates the Universal Church, prohibits “Catholic priests to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of churches or ecclesial communities that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church.”

In that sense, Canon 844 emphasizes that “Catholic ministers administer the sacraments lawful only to the Catholics faithful, which, in turn, only they are linkedly receive them from Catholic ministers.”

The tension between the Catholic Church and Bukele for mining in El Salvador

The controversy arising during the commemorative mass of the 45th anniversary of the murder of San Oscar Romero reflects the current tensions in El Salvador, particularly around the controversial metal mining law promoted by President Nayib Bukele.

The presence of antimineras banners and non -Catholic religious figures on the altar during the celebration underlines the growing opposition to this government initiative.

This incident is framed in a broader context of confrontation between the Catholic Church and the Bukele government, where the ecclesiastical hierarchy has led efforts to repeal the mining law, arguing its potential negative effects on the environment and the health of the population.

The controversy at the Mass of Romero, a well -known defender of human rights and social justice, thus becomes a symbol of the current resistance against policies that, according to their critics, could jeopardize the well -being of the most vulnerable Salvadorans.

On March 19, the bishops of El Salvador presented to the Legislative Assembly a letter supported by 150,000 signatures to achieve the repeal of the Metal Mining Law, prohibited in the country since 2017, but approved in December 2024 with the support of President Bukele.

In December 2024, President Bukele considered that the prohibition was an absurd situationbecause the richness given by God “can be used in a responsible way” to achieve high economic and social development.

The president said in his X account that “studies carried out in only 4% of the potential area identified 50 million ounces of gold, valued today at $ 131,565 million. This is equivalent to 380% of El Salvador’s GDP.”

However, bishops fear that “water and air” pollution will increase with these activities, “causing death and diseases irreversibly” especially among the poor.