Remembering Archbishop Romero
Archbishop Oscar Romero
On March 24th, 2010, El Salvador commemorated the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero. This horrendous crime -- while Romero celebrated Mass -- was the last drop in the scaling wave of repression and violence that soon degenerated into a 12-year civil war. If Romero’s desperate pleas to stop the human rights violations had been heard, perhaps the country could have avoided the loss of 75,000 people. In his last sermon Archbishop Romero said:
“I would like to make a special appeal to the men of the army, and specifically to the ranks of the National Guard, the police and the military. Brothers, you come from our own people. You are killing your own peasant brothers when any human order to kill must be subordinated to the law of God which says, ‘You should not kill.’…In the name of God, in the name of these suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: Stop the repression.”
Romero’s teachings and examples strongly influenced the progressive church and, in general, the progressive movement in Latin America and elsewhere. His martyrdom inspired hundreds of people of faith in the United States to work in solidarity with people in Central America suffering during civil wars. Many people who have supported WCCN over the years consider themselves his disciples.
A political event commemorated this anniversary in an unprecedented way. This year was the first time since the assassination that a Salvadoran president publicly recognized Romero’s influence and historic status. President Mauricio Funes, an independent journalist elected last year under the banner of the former leftist guerrilla party the Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN), has given Archbishop Romero his deserved place in Salvadoran history. President Funes organized several cultural and religious events, as well as monuments honoring the memory of Archbishop Romero. Most importantly, on behalf of the Salvadoran state, he asked for forgiveness for the crime against Archbishop Romero. President Funes stated:
“On behalf of the Salvadoran state and as President of the Republic, I recognize that on March 24th, 1980, then Archbishop of El Salvador Oscar Arnulfo Romero was victim of the illegal violence perpetrated by a death squad…Those death squads unfortunately acted under the cover, collaboration, support or participation of state agents…Under those circumstances, and as President of the Republic I ask for forgiveness on behalf of the Salvadoran state for this assassination perpetrated 30 years ago.”
The example and memory of Archbishop Romero will stay with us forever.