Archbishop Jaime Spengler, President of the Episcopal Church of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM), acknowledged that the inculturation of indigenous Amazonian rituals and liturgies is taking place in his native Brazil. Spengler also called on the church to remain “open” to the idea of married clergy.
Michael Haines, senior Vatican correspondent for LifeSite News asked At Tuesday's synod press conference, Spengler spoke of what many proponents refer to as the “Amazonian rite,” or “civilized liturgy.”
“Right now, we're talking about the possibility of an Amazonian ritual,” Spengler said.
The Amazonian liturgy will begin a three-year pilot period later this year, according to Father Agenor Brigenti, head of the theology team at the Episcopal Church of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) and advisor to the Synod of Amazonian Communities (CEAMA).
“In some of our regions, people will go days, weeks, even months or even years without being able to celebrate the Eucharist,” Spengler said. Explained.
“On the other hand, some have stated the following guidelines: The Latin Church today has a Roman rite, and the Roman rite must be civilized in different realities.''
The “different realities” involved in celebrating Amazonian rituals may include the adoption of practices and rituals that directly contradict the teachings and doctrines of the Church. For example, Bishop Raimundo Vantuy Neto of São Gabriel da Cachoeira in Brazil has said that Amazonian rituals can include elements of indigenous and even pagan worship.
“In some areas, indigenous peoples use a kind of clay bowl instead of an incense burner, in which they burn regular resin,” he told Crux. “These are examples of cultural and identity elements of such people. Therefore, we do not create anything. We only construct new rituals according to existing customs.”
Of course, the adoption of “elements of culture and identity” may begin with pottery, as critics argue, but soon other, more obvious signs of pagan worship demean Christ and exalt indigenous gods. may grow to include.
In 2023, the pagan idol Pachamama, appeared At a Mass for the Regional Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean in Brazil. photograph When the bishop recited Mass, the pagan idol was placed clearly and prominently in front of the ambo.
As has been the pattern for supporters of the Amazonian Rite and of Pope Francis in general, Mr. Spengler refused to rule out the possibility of clerical marriage. This is one of the important themes that will be highlighted in this court. Querida Amazonia It was revealed from the 2019 Amazon Synod. Rather, he argues that this issue requires a mindset of “openness.”
“I don't know if having married men play the role of elders is the best solution,” he said. “But I believe that addressing this issue requires openness and honesty.”
A major formal synodal meeting on synodality is scheduled to conclude near the end of this month. However, the 10 “working groups” established by Pope Francis have mandates, some of which extend until 2025.
