On March 24, Bishop Oswaldo Escobar of Chalatenango, San Salvador, celebrated a Eucharist commemorating the 45th anniversary of the assassination of leftist champion Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez. He is a saint of Pope Francis.
The Eucharist was celebrated in in the chapel of the Hospitalito La Divina Providencia, where the then Archbishop Romero of San Salvador was assassinated. Several priests concelebrated.
Also participating in the Eucharist were Neftalí Ruíz, who calls himself "bishop" of the Old Catholic Church and a female Anglican minister. She wore an alb, stole, and cross as if she were a bishop.
The female Anglican preacher participated in the entrance procession and the homily. She also stood at the altar until the moment of communion.
The Apostolic Nunciature of El Salvador condemned the ceremony the same day, but only in words. No sanctions were imposed on Bishop Escobar.
The Nuncio wrote: "Ecumenical celebrations that are shared with members of non-Catholic churches, provide only for the Liturgy of the Word", adding that "the altar is reserved only for the celebration of the Eucharist".
And, "What happened this morning in the chapel of the Hospitalito should not have taken place because it is forbidden by canon law."
According to Infovaticana the de facto concelebration of a Anglican representative took place for the third year in a row.
The picture accompanying this article shows the Old Catholic cleric and the Anglican female preacher next to Catholic Bishop Escobar. It was posted by Luis Gonzalez on Facebook.com.
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