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CNA Staff, Apr 5, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

Thomas Gumbleton, a vocal peace activist and critic of war and nuclear weapons who served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit, died on Thursday at age 94. 

Born in Detroit in 1930, Gumbleton studied at both St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, and the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, the latter at which he earned a doctorate in canon law. He was ordained in the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1956 and made an auxiliary bishop there in 1968, becoming the youngest U.S. bishop at the time.

His long tenure as a bishop was marked by several controversies, including his arrest in 1987 in connection with a protest at a Nevada nuclear testing site as well as another arrest at the White House in 1999 while protesting the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

The bishop was arrested a third time in 2003 during a protest against the U.S. invasion of Iraq that took place in Lafayette Square across from the White House.

In January 2006, Gumbleton testified before the Ohio General Assembly in favor of a bill expanding the statute of limitations for sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits against their alleged abusers.

In his statement, he told the assembly that he "[did] not speak in any official capacity on behalf of the Archdiocese of Detroit, nor any regional nor national group of bishops," though he said he testified "as a priest of the Catholic Church for almost 50 years and a bishop for almost 38 years." In that testimony, he also said he had been inappropriately touched by a priest while a teenager.

Gumbleton submitted his resignation to then-Pope Benedict XVI less than a month later, in early February. He later claimed that Church leaders had responded negatively to his testimony and that the Vatican had demanded he resign from his role as bishop and as pastor of St. Leo Parish in Detroit. 

The prelate was already on the cusp of resignation at the time; he had turned 75 the year before, the age at which bishops are generally required to submit their resignation. Gumbleton himself had requested that he be allowed to continue serving in his role, but the Congregation for Bishops (now the Dicastery for Bishops) had refused. 

Gumbleton later said he had corresponded with the congregation for nearly a year on the matter before ultimately submitting his resignation shortly after his testimony at the Ohio Statehouse. 

Controversy followed the bishop into his retirement. A supporter of women's ordination to the priesthood, Gumbleton was also an advocate for changes to the Church's teaching about homosexuality. In 2013 he publicly contradicted Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron and urged Catholic supporters of same-sex marriage: "Don't stop going to Communion." 

Several years before, then-Marquette, Michigan, Bishop Alexander Sample requested that Gumbleton not attend a talk in the former's diocese, citing his stance on homosexuality and women's ordination. "In order that no one becomes confused, everyone under my pastoral care must receive clear teaching on these important doctrines," Sample said at the time.

In announcing his death this week, Vigneron described Gumbleton as "a faithful son of the Archdiocese of Detroit, loved and respected by his brother priests and the laity for his integrity and devotion to the people he served." 

"We in the archdiocese join his family and friends in praying for the repose of his soul and asking God to grant him the reward of his labors," the archbishop said. 

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CNA Staff, Apr 5, 2024 / 11:15 am (CNA).

A prominent Catholic bishop urged U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an April 2 letter to engage in a "partnership" with Nigeria to help the nation "withstand the forces of violence and extremism." 

Bishop Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, called on Blinken to "support the concerns of my brother bishops in Nigeria" following the Nigerian bishops' recent declaration urging their government to address internal corruption, security, and economic issues.

One Nigerian bishop has described the situation in Nigeria as a Christian "genocide." There have been recent kidnappings and in some cases, murder, of Nigerian Catholic priests as well as a series of massacres last Christmas, where more than 200 Christians were killed.

In the Feb. 22 declaration, the Catholic bishops of Nigeria described the "seriously deteriorating situation" largely in the "security and economy" of Nigeria and urged the government to listen to the "contribution" of all Nigerians.

"The bishops of Nigeria have decried the unabated violence perpetrated by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State-West Africa Province in the northeastern states, Zaidan noted in his letter. 

"Local vigilante groups have risen up to defend farmers in the middle belt of the country from armed herdsmen while bandits and gunmen attack villages and motorists, and kidnap innocent people for ransom across the northwest and middle of the country," he wrote.

Zaidan noted that because of this, Nigeria has more than 3 million internally displaced people, "most of whom have escaped this relentless swell of violence." 

The bishops called on the nation to "leave all polarizations behind and come together" and added: "We have both the natural and human resources to get this done." 

"It is no longer acceptable for our leaders to surround themselves only with their political supporters and cronies," the bishops wrote, adding: "It is time to run government for the common good."

The Nigerian bishops also highlighted the negative effect of the termination of fuel subsidies and the "drastic devaluation" of the Nigerian currency on the already impoverished and vulnerable in society. 

"The Catholic Church, along with many academics and observers, argue that the root causes of the nationwide violence is pervasive corruption and endemic poverty and a massive failure of governance at the federal level," Zaidan noted.

Zaidan urged the government to "urgently address" the "disaffection and restiveness" throughout the Nigerian population "to avoid a descent into chaos and anarchy." 

Building off of the Nigerian bishops' declaration, Zaidan urged the government to address the "corrosive impact" of corruption, consider increasing security through a state police force, and "invest in the creation of small business."

"I urge you and your colleagues in the United States Embassy to engage with the local Catholic Church leadership to put these ideas into action," he wrote. "This region of Africa needs a partnership and the leadership of the United States if it is to withstand the forces of violence and extremism."

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CNA Staff, Apr 5, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The U.S. Catholic bishops announced on Wednesday that April 27-28 will be this year's annual Catholic Home Missions Appeal, which supports vital ministries for more than 75 U.S. dioceses in need.

Every year, Catholic parishes throughout the U.S. take up this appeal to help support remote, impoverished, or small parishes. (Some dioceses can opt to have the collection during a different weekend.) 

Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, who heads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions, shared his appreciation for the support of the faithful who "help the Church maintain its presence" in these dioceses. 

"There are places where ministry is marked by the deep commitment of parishioners and the clergy who serve them, who often travel many miles through mountains, deserts, or arctic terrain to attend Mass and serve each other and their communities," McKnight said in an April 3 statement. 

Many Catholics in the U.S. live in urban centers where the local parish is only a few blocks away and the congregation numbers in the hundreds.

But in states such as Mississippi, Alaska, and Montana, Catholic churches can be harder to access. Living in a rural area can mean that receiving the sacraments may involve more planning and a long drive. A rural parish or diocese may also have fewer resources and less financial support from its smaller pool of parishioners.

The Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps these dioceses and eparchies (the Eastern Catholic equivalent of dioceses) with operational costs, pastoral projects, and parish life support as well as vocations work, the USCCB noted. 

These rural or financially disadvantaged dioceses that receive aid are known as "Mission Territory" and include areas in the Deep South, such as Mississippi; western regions in Texas; some parts of northern Wisconsin and Michigan; and much of the rural areas in the Pacific Northwest, according to a 2023 map by Catholic Home Missions.

Some Western and Midwestern states including New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Missouri also have regions supported by the Missions Appeal as does all of Utah.   

"The faithful who live in the mission dioceses give sacrificially to support their parishes and essential ministries, despite their own limited means," McKnight continued in the statement.

"I am grateful to them for their prayerful sacrifices, and I am also deeply appreciative to the faithful in other dioceses across the country who give to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal to help the Church maintain its presence and minister to their neighbors," he noted. 

In 2023, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal raised more than $9.8 million toward grants for dioceses with limited resources. 

Grants support everything from youth ministry to subsidizing vocations work for parishes with limited staffing. Seminary education, faith formation, evangelization, young adult ministry, and pro-life ministries are all encouraged by the program.  

For instance, a 2023 grant helped the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana to bring more people to Mass through a mentorship-based faith formation program. 

After two years without ordinations, the Wisconsin Diocese of Superior had its largest ordination class in decades following a priestly vocations outreach program. 

The program also helped the Diocese of Stockton, California, to be able to organize an annual evangelization congress of Hispanic and Latino young adults who are "leading their peers to Christ," the release noted. 

"Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who transforms hearts, leads people to Christ, and inspires them to greater virtue," McKnight said. "Yet the Spirit uses your financial gifts to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal to help bring this about." 

"When you give, no matter how large or small the amount, you are an instrument in the hands of God, bringing faith, hope, and love to your neighbors," he added.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 4, 2024 / 16:10 pm (CNA).

As several charitable groups are halting operations in the wake of the killing of seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is increasing its presence and efforts in the region. 

Jason Knapp, Holy Land representative for the U.S.-based Catholic group, told CNA that while it is "working hard to keep our team as safe as possible," it remains "committed to doing everything we can to address the significant humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza."

Knapp said that CRS has set up warehouses, guesthouses, and offices in Rafah and Deir al Balah and is "in the process of setting up additional distribution points throughout Rafah, Khan Younis, and Middle Area."

"In addition to expanding this operational capacity in the south half of Gaza," Knapp said that CRS is "collaborating with local partners in Gaza City and North Gaza to prepare for safe and orderly distributions as soon as aid is able to reach these areas."

This comes as several relief groups have halted their efforts after seven humanitarian aid workers with the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed by an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza on Monday.

With the Israel-Hamas war having now gone on for over 175 days, the seven WCK workers were not the first unintended casualties of the conflict.

According to United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, "at least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed since October" in Gaza, which he said "is one of the world's most dangerous and difficult places to work as a humanitarian."

Because of the danger, some groups, such as WCK and American aid group Anera, have halted aid shipments for the time being out of concern for workers' safety. 

Despite this, CRS, which is associated with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and funded in large part by donations from the American faithful, confirmed to CNA that it is increasing its presence in the regions in which the seven workers were killed. 

Knapp said that CRS is "deeply concerned" about the humanitarian situation, which continues to worsen, with 1.7 million Gazan civilians believed to be displaced.

"CRS' team in Gaza has been providing emergency assistance since the beginning of this crisis, with distributions of food, tarps and tents, bedding, hygiene supplies, and cash assistance reaching more than 750,000 people," he explained. 

To protect its workers, CRS coordinates their efforts with the IDF and has a sophisticated security plan in place, Knapp said.

"We benefit greatly from local expertise, with experienced staff informing all the decisions that we make," he said. "We also have a field security plan, with analysis of the risks in Gaza and the steps we can take to make sure we keep all staff as safe as possible. As a part of our approach, we share the locations of our operations with the IDF so they know that we're humanitarians and should not be targeted."

In the fog of war, however, security plans are not foolproof. According to a WCK statement, the workers killed on Monday had also coordinated their movement with the IDF, were traveling in a "deconflicted zone," and were in vehicles marked as humanitarian aid. 

Though WCK founder Jose Andrés has accused the IDF of intentionally targeting the humanitarian workers, the IDF has said that "it was a mistake that followed a misidentification at night during a war in very complex conditions." 

Nonetheless, Knapp told CNA that CRS is "advocating to ensure full respect of sites and movements" of official humanitarian workers. 

Meanwhile, Chloe Mata Crane, a representative for WCK, told CNA that in response to this week's killings, all of the group's ships carrying food and humanitarian aid have returned to the island of Cyprus, which is some 359 miles away from Gaza in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Crane said that "a determination has not yet been made about when to resume operations in Gaza." 

Of the seven workers killed, one, Polish citizen Damian Soból, was a Catholic. Soból's hometown Archdiocese of Przemysl held a memorial Mass and procession in his honor on Thursday at the Cathedral of Przemysl. 

In response to the killings, Pope Francis once again called for an end to hostilities in Gaza and said he was praying for the victims and their families. 

"I reiterate my firm call for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip," the pontiff said. "I express my deep sorrow for the volunteers who were killed while distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza. I pray for them and their families." 

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 4, 2024 / 16:40 pm (CNA).

A pro-life Catholic lawmaker in the Nebraska Legislature is switching his party registration from Democrat to Republican because of the Democratic Party's staunch support of abortion. 

Sen. Mike McDonnell, who had been a registered Democrat for 40 years before this week, said in a news conference that his party change was caused by the Democratic Party's refusal to respect his pro-life views, which he said is grounded in his Catholic faith. He was first elected in 2016.

"Today, I am announcing I am now going to be a registered Republican in the state of Nebraska," McDonnell said.

While serving in the Legislature, McDonnell was the lone Democrat to support a bill that would have banned nearly all abortions in the state — that bill did not pass. He was also the only Democrat to vote for a bill that prohibited doctors from providing transgender drugs and surgeries to minors, which ultimately passed and was signed into law.

Because of these votes, the Democratic Party of Douglas County withdrew its support for McDonnell and stripped him of his voting rights on internal matters within the county party. He later faced a censure from the Democratic Party of Nebraska.

"I asked the Democratic Party of Douglas County to respect that I'm pro-life — that I'm a member of the Roman Catholic Church and my beliefs are based on that," McDonnell said in the news conference. "Douglas County Democrats, instead of respecting it, they decided to punish it." 

McDonnell said he ran for office as a "pro-life, pro-union, pro-Second Amendment" Democrat who "wanted to see how we could grow our state and reduce our property taxes at the same time." 

Switching parties, McDonnell added, "is not an easy decision," recalling that his grandfather told him when he was 10 years old that their family was three things: "We're Irish, we're Catholic, and we're Democrats." 

"It's never easy for someone to make this kind of decision, but what makes it easier is the people standing behind me," McDonnell said while surrounded by Republican lawmakers during the announcement. "Over the last year, regardless of my decision switching parties, they have been so supportive."

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb responded to the announcement with a statement that said the Democratic Party will continue to support "reproductive freedom and the human rights of the LGBTQ community."

"Our decision to censure Sen. McDonnell was never about him being a pro-life Catholic," Kleeb said. "Our decision was based on our party reaffirming our core values to protect women's ability to make health decisions and to keep politicians out of our personal health decisions. We respect the ongoing work of Sen. McDonnell on behalf of unions and his commitment to protect a fair electoral vote system we have in our state."

McDonnell's announcement will significantly shake up Nebraska politics by giving Republicans a two-thirds majority in the state's unicameral legislature. To overcome a filibuster, most bills need support from two-thirds of the body.

In a statement following McDonnell's announcement, the Nebraska Republican Party touted its now "filibuster-proof Republican majority."

"The [Nebraska Republican Party] welcomes Sen. McDonnell as our newest champion of conservative values," the statement read. "Sen. McDonnell was censured by the Nebraska Democratic Party in a monthslong push to hold him accountable for his votes to protect the unborn and place commonsense guidelines on gender-affirming care."

Some Nebraska Republicans are pushing legislation to change the process by which the state doles out Electoral College delegates in presidential elections, which could affect the 2024 presidential election. An effort to force a floor vote on the legislation failed by a large margin on Wednesday, but supporters of the change are continuing to pressure Republicans to get on board.

In Nebraska, the candidate who wins the plurality of votes in the state receives two of the five delegates — the remaining three are awarded based on plurality votes within each of the three congressional districts. In 2020, former President Donald Trump won four delegates from the state and President Joe Biden won one delegate.

The lawmakers are hoping to switch to a winner-take-all allocation of delegates, which would likely guarantee that Trump receives all five delegates in the 2024 election if the effort is successful. However, McDonnell has indicated he is against the proposal.

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CNA Staff, Apr 4, 2024 / 11:30 am (CNA).

Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, a twice-daily prayer of the rosary who at his death was the confirmed oldest man in the world, died on April 2, just weeks before his 115th birthday.

Mora held the title of oldest man in the world for a few short years. He was awarded the distinction by Guinness World Records on Feb. 4, 2022, when he was 112 years and 253 days old.

His death was confirmed by Freddy Bernal, the governor of Táchira, Venezuela, where Mora lived. 

"Our dear Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, today with deep sadness and pain we say goodbye to you, to that archetype of a man from Táchira, humble, hardworking, peaceful, enthusiastic about family and tradition," Bernal wrote on X.

"Together with my wife and children we had the pleasure and the pride of meeting him and sharing with his loved ones," the governor said. "My old Don Vicente, we will always remember him for his optimism in life, for faith, hope, and that deep love for our state of Táchira."

President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela also paid tribute to Mora on X.

"Juan Vicente Pérez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old," he wrote. "I send my hugs and condolences to his family and to all the people of El Cobre, Táchira state. May God receive him in his holy glory."

Born on May 27, 1909, in Venezuela, Mora was the ninth child of 10 born to Eutiquio del Rosario Pérez Mora and Edelmira Mora.

In 1914 the family moved to Los Pajuiles, a village in San José de Bolivar. When Mora was 5 years old, he started to work with his father and siblings in agriculture, specifically coffee harvesting and sugar cane.

At 10, he began school but was only able to attend for five months because his teacher became very ill. However, Mora was able to learn how to read and write thanks to a book his teacher had given him prior to her health declining. 

Mora was also a sheriff in Caricuena from 1948 to 1958.

He was married to Ediofina del Rosario García for 60 years. She passed away in 1997. The couple had six sons and five daughters. The family has now grown to include 42 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Among his family, Mora was known for his faith. He strived to build a solid relationship with God, his relatives, and he prayed the rosary twice a day.

Mora told Guinness World Records his secret to living a long life was to "work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente [a strong liquor made from sugar cane] every day, love God, and always carry him in your heart."

He added that he wanted to be remembered "as a hardworking man, faithful to his wife and his religion."

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CNA Staff, Apr 4, 2024 / 12:15 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is suing numerous insurers over their alleged failure to pay for abuse claims stretching back several decades.

The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in September of last year ahead of a state law that ended the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits for negligence concerning child sexual abuse. The law opened the archdiocese up to abuse allegations stretching back decades.

With the Chapter 11 filing, "the archdiocese will be reorganized, victim-survivors will be equitably compensated, and the Church will continue its mission and ministries," Archbishop William Lori said at the time.

In a new court filing last week, meanwhile, the archdiocese alleged that nearly two dozen insurers "have failed to acknowledge, or will fail to acknowledge" their obligations to "pay for the defense of the archdiocese" and its parishes.

The insurers have also allegedly failed to acknowledge their obligation to "indemnify the archdiocese and/or parishes, including the funding of any settlements or judgments."

The 22 named insurers have contracted with the archdiocese at various times since 1956, the filing said. The archdiocese itself "timely paid all premiums" related to the policies.

The alleged refusal of the insurers to pay out the insurance claims "constitutes a breach" of the policy agreements, the archdiocese said. 

The filing asks the court to declare that the insurers are "obligated to pay in full" the "expenditures made by the archdiocese and parishes" pursuant to the claims. 

The archdiocese said it was requesting a trial by jury on the matter if the court deemed it necessary.

Lori said last year that the bankruptcy filing was "the best path forward to compensate equitably all victim-survivors, given the archdiocese's limited financial resources, which would have otherwise been exhausted on litigation."

"Staggering legal fees and large settlements or jury awards for a few victim-survivors would have depleted our financial resources," the prelate said at the time, "leaving the vast majority of victim-survivors without compensation while ending ministries that families across Maryland rely on for material and spiritual support."

The archdiocese joined more than two dozen other U.S. dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy in recent years.

Most recently, the Diocese of Sacramento filed for bankruptcy after more than 250 lawsuits alleging abuse by Church officials. 

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ACI Prensa Staff, Apr 4, 2024 / 14:00 pm (CNA).

Father Francisco "Patxi" Bronchalo of the Diocese of Getafe in Spain shared on X about the emotional wounds he has encountered throughout his pastoral experience in persons who declare themselves "trans."

The priest began a thread on X on April 3 affirming that "a man who says he's a woman is not a woman but a man who says he's a woman," which "seems obvious" but nevertheless means going against "the ideological trans dogma and makes many people cry to high heaven."

The priest explained that among people who declare themselves "trans," he has always found in his pastoral experience that "there are deep wounds that have led to nonacceptance of their biological reality."

Given this, instead of facing their problems, they are offered an "escape forward" into an ideology "that says that biological reality does not define what a person is but that what is defining is how this person perceives himself."

Consequently, "a whole new anthropological, moral, and legal construction is proposed to justify the ideology" that leads to teaching children in schools "the 37 different genders that are said to exist," the priest continued.

Sexual abuse and bullying at school

Bronchalo explained in his detailed thread on X that the wounds he has encountered when as a priest he has had to care for people who don't identify with their biological nature are of two kinds.

Either there is "sexual, physical, and psychological abuse by a family member that leads them to reject who they are" or there is "bullying at school, rejection by friends for being more shy, sensitive, or withdrawn."

"There is always something of this: Children broken by very hard life experiences in the most intimate of environments," the priest emphasized, noting that "the family is a place where the person finds security and affection," and without it the person is hurt and the damage done "will cause suffering in the future."

A flag and some hormones

Bronchalo explained that many of these young people are given "a flag and some hormones" as a solution. The flag "makes them identify with a group," so "at first they feel good," but then "they begin to enter the entire ideological world that teaches them that everyone hates them."

Regarding taking opposite-sex hormones, the priest warned that it's a decision "that can lead to irreversible consequences." He pointed out that "people talk about trans visibility but visibility is not given to those who regret the process." However, this can be easily remedied with "a quick Google search."

"Many discover that when they have done the entire process they still feel bad. Because the wounds are still there," the priest explained, lamenting that because of this "there are those who fall into drugs to alleviate emotional pain, into unbridled sex, prostitution, in order to feel loved. It's hard. Their hearts are broken."

Bronchalo asks himself: "What truly heals wounds?" His response is clear: "Affection and security. True love. What was missing could be given to them. Without escapes or ideologies. Teaching through true human love what the unconditional love that God has for us is."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Apr 4, 2024 / 14:55 pm (CNA).

Father Javier Sánchez of the Archdiocese of Zaragoza in Spain died early this morning from burns he suffered when his liturgical vestments caught fire from a candle during the Easter Vigil on Saturday. According to the Spanish newspaper El Heraldo de Aragón, sources from the archdiocese said the priest "tried to protect the nuns of the convent."

"The priest tried to protect the nuns of the convent when embers lit up in the basin that was used [for the fire] and that ultimately caused his death. Apparently a flammable substance had been used to start the fire. [The Easter Vigil] was held inside the convent," said the source cited by the Spanish newspaper.

Sánchez, 60, who was a parish priest at St. Gregory Church, was a counselor of the Brotherhood of Humility and chaplain of the Franciscan Conceptionists of the Santa Isabel neighborhood in Zaragoza, according to a statement published by the archdiocese.

When he was blessing the Easter fire as part of the Easter Vigil, the priest's vestments caught fire, burning 50% of his body, according to diocesan sources cited by El Heraldo de Aragón.

After the accident, the priest was taken to Miguel Servet Hospital, where he was treated for serious burns but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

A funeral for Sánchez will be held at noon on April 5. The Mass will be offered by the archbishop of Zaragoza, Carlos Escribano. At 5 p.m. a farewell ceremony will take place at the parish located in the Santa Isabel neighborhood.

Upon hearing the news, the Brotherhood of Humility expressed on Facebook its "deepest condolences and support to his entire family" and announced the celebration today of a Mass for his eternal rest. "May the humility of God and the sweetness of Mary shelter you in heaven. Rest in peace. We will never forget you, Javi. Care for us in glory," the brotherhood wrote.

In addition to his pastoral work, the deceased priest was known as a "rocker priest" due to his love of music. Sánchez recorded three albums and gave numerous concerts in Spain and abroad.

This story was first publishedby ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 4, 2024 / 10:15 am (CNA).

The Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople has expressed a desire that Christians in the East and the West begin celebrating Easter on a "unified date" rather than adhere to separate Lenten calendars.

"It is a scandal to celebrate separately the unique event of the one resurrection of the one Lord," Patriarch Bartholomew I, who holds the title "first among equals" in Eastern Orthodoxy, said in a recent homily, according to Orthodox Times.

The ecumenical patriarch made the comments during a homily on March 31, which marked Easter on the Western calendar and the second Sunday of Lent on the Eastern calendar.

"We extend a heartfelt greeting of love to all Christians around the world who celebrate holy Easter today," Bartholomew said during the homily. "We beseech the Lord of Glory that the forthcoming Easter celebration next year will not merely be a fortuitous occurrence but rather the beginning of a unified date for its observance by both Eastern and Western Christianity."

The ecumenical patriarch noted that the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople sent representatives to Christian communities who celebrated Easter on March 31 "to extend our heartfelt wishes." He also said this effort is "particularly significant" because the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicea of 325 is approaching. That meeting took place at a time when the Eastern and Western Churches were in full communion with each other. 

"Among [the Council of Nicea's] pivotal discussions was the matter of establishing a common time frame for the Easter festivities," Bartholomew said. "We are optimistic, as there is goodwill and willingness on both sides."

Pope Francis has also expressed his intent to reach an agreement to establish a common date for Easter. In 2015, the pontiff said the two churches "have to come to an agreement." 

The pontiff similarly said that disunity is a scandal and joked that Christians could say to one another: "When did Christ rise from the dead? My Christ rose today, and yours next week."

The Roman Catholic Church adopted the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, in the late 16th century. This replaced the Julian calendar, which was enacted in the Roman Empire by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. 

The Gregorian calendar was eventually adopted by most of the world as the standard calendar because its revision of leap years more adequately accounted for the revolution of Earth around the sun than the Julian calendar did, ensuring the dates more accurately reflected the seasons.

In the Eastern Church, however, the liturgical calendar remained based on the Julian calendar for several more centuries. In the 20th century, most Orthodox churches adopted a revised version of the Julian calendar. 

Some Orthodox churches still adhere to the old Julian calendar, including the largest patriarchate, Moscow. Adherence to either the old Julian calendar or the revised version lead to major feasts like Christmas and Easter falling on different days than adherents to the Gregorian calendar. 

Any revision of the calendar by Patriarch Bartholomew would likely be rejected by the Moscow Patriarchate, which excommunicated Bartholomew in 2018 amid disputes about the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

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