Catholic bishop receives “blessing” from rabbi in synagogue in USA

A rabbi “blesses” an American Roman Catholic bishop. Photo: a screenshot from the Temple Shalom YouTube channel

On June 5, 2026, the head of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Bishop Mark Brennan, took part in a Jewish “Shabbat Shalom” service, during which he received a “special blessing” from a rabbi. The incident took place in a synagogue during the “First Friday Shabbat” service, reports Life Site News.

Rabbi Joshua Lief invited the Catholic bishop to the altar to give him a “farewell exhortation” over the hierarch’s upcoming retirement on July 1. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston boasted about the event on social media, calling it an expression of “beautiful friendship grounded in respect and love for God’s creation.”

Brennan has taken part in similar interfaith events before. Earlier, he held joint ecumenical “services” with representatives of various Protestant denominations and also prayed for Israel in the company of a Presbyterian woman. Rabbi Lief called the retiring bishop “an amazing friend and colleague” and expressed hope for further “bridge-building between faiths” with his successor.

In Catholic circles, Bishop Brennan has gained a controversial reputation because of his liberal views. He openly supported the Vatican’s controversial declaration “Fiducia Supplicans,” which permits “blessings” for same-sex couples. In Brennan’s view, this document “expands the realm of awareness” of who may receive blessings.

In addition, the hierarch consistently fought against traditions in his diocese: he made the faithful stand after the “Agnus Dei” prayer and urged them to receive Communion standing instead of the traditional kneeling.

As the UOJ reported, an Athonite monk explained how ecumenism leads to the secularization of the Church.

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