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Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Romero devotees faithful to Francis


JUBILEE YEAR for the CENTENNIAL of BLESSED ROMERO, 2016 — 2017


On the day that the Viganò report was published, a Salvadoran parish was having a Romero procession. (Photo courtesy of Cultura Romeriana.)
#BlessedRomero #Beatification
The American Catholic press blew up last week with word that the Archbishop of Philadelphia had called for the cancellation of the upcoming youth synod, which includes the canonization of Archbishop Oscar Romero and Paul VI, arguing that the bishops lack credibility to speak to young people given the controversy unleashed by the accusation of the former nuncio to the U.S. about the abuses of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. It is no exaggeration to say that while some Catholics in the northern hemisphere are calling for the Pope’s resignation, Archbishop Romero’s followers are looking forward to the canonization of their martyr on October 14 from a vantage point of widespread support for Francis.
The 3rd Continental Congress of Latin American and Caribbean Theology met in El Salvador and issued a letter of support for the Pontiff, and the president of the Latin American Bishops’ Conference (CELAM) condemned what he denounced as a shameful personal attack on the Pope. Other expressions of support for Francis have come from the Primate Archbishop of Mexico, and the bishops of Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Spain and Venezuela, among others.  [See the Spanish version of this post for links.]  In El Salvador, a church source discreetly asked me to sum up former Nuncio Viganò’s accusations, explaining apologetically that he has been so excited with Romero news that he has not properly kept up with other issues.
The controversy in the wider Church has not diminished the enthusiasm for Romero’s canonization: the Office of Canonizations of the San Salvador Archdiocese reports that thousands of people from the diminutive country have registered to make the 6,000 mile trip to Rome for the event. They will have a preferred location within the ceremony, since the tickets allotted to them will be nos. 7,001 – 12,000 (practically by the altar). Romero devotees will come from various Latin American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama, but also European countries such as Belgium, Denmark, England (a large contingent), Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Africa will not be left out, with a delegation coming in from the Congo. It should come as no surprise that the majority of the Salvadorans with enough resources to make the trip—70%—are older than 50 years of age. The rest, however, are younger.
San Salvador Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas announced a send-off Mass on Sunday, October 7, one week before the ceremony. “We thank everyone for the enthusiasm, joy, and generosity in the preparation of this great event,” he said in a press release. The archbishop announced that a vigil on Saturday, October 13 will start with a procession from the Savior of the World Plaza, where Romero was beatified in 2015, to the Cathedral that houses his mortal remains. There, at 2 am San Salvador time, the ceremony will be simulcast from Rome, and the following Sunday a mass of thanksgiving will be celebrated at the same location, “presided over by our episcopal conference and we also expect all the bishops of Central America to be there.”
Of course, loyalty to Francis stems from gratitude to him for advancing Romero’s cause.  But in another sense, Romero’s followers are not scandalized by seeing open ruptures in the Church, because the history of Romero is one of painful divisions in the episcopate and harsh criticism of Romero from various sectors. It was Francis himself who acknowledged that Romero “was defamed, slandered, soiled ... even by his brothers in the priesthood and in the episcopate.” For some, it is even natural for Francis to also be criticized, as it marks a kind of confirmation that his ministry, like that of Romero, is inconvenient to certain crowds.
The same thing that happened to Archbishop Romero,” said Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez, a Romero associate who is auxiliary bishop of San Salvador, comparing the case of Romero with Francis. “Many today ask that Pope Francis resign,” he noted.
Taking over as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, summarized the sentiments of Romero's followers. “We love the pope and we love him till the end,” said the prelate. “If we find ourselves united to the Pope, the Church will be saved. If instead we create divisions—alas—the Church risks serious consequences.”

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