Dear friends,
As we approach the 31st anniversary of the assassination of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, please take the time to read this reflection from our friends at Christians for Peace in El Salvador . - Adam
Every March, we reflect on the meaning of Archbishop Oscar Romero in our lives, and most especially at CRISPAZ, in our mission. Today we consider the words of Romero, below, taken from his diary in March of 1980, and we consider the meaning of his words in the reflection below his diary entry.
"Once more the Lord asks Cain: Where is your brother Able? And although Cain answers the Lord that he is not his brother's keeper, the Lord replies, 'The blood of your brother is crying out to me from the earth. Because of that, this land curses you, it has opened his mouth to receive from your hands the blood of your brother. Although you till the land, it will not reward you with its truthfulness, you will wander lost in the world,' words from Genesis chapter 4 (10-12). And this continues to be the principal concern of the church, this is what obliges it to raise its voice incessantly, untiringly, week after week, as if crying in the wilderness. This is nothing so important to the church as human life, as the human being. Especially the person of the poor and oppressed, who besides being human beings, are divine beings, so that, as Jesus said, anything that is done for them, he regards as done for him. And this blood, the blood, the death which is there beyond all politics, touches the vey heart of God and makes it impossible for either the agrarian reform, or the nationalization of the bank, or other measures that have been promised to bear fruit if there is blood."
Archbishop Oscar Romero, from his diary of March 16, 1980, just more than a week before his murder in San Salvador. From "Through the Year with Oscar Romero: Daily Meditations," translated by Irene B. Hodgson, Ph.D.
Archbishop Oscar A. Romero called Salvadorans, and indeed all members of the universal church, to liberation throughout two years of ministry dedicated to a stand against injustice that culminated in his death in March 1980. He denounced injustice, the impoverishment of the many against the riches of the few, and he called for an accompaniment of his people during their own struggles for dignity and the right to be treated as human beings. He was, quite simply, a prophet. (See a video of Romero by clicking here.
The truth of Romero's call to accompaniment remains the same today as it was 31 years ago; only circumstances have changed. An oppression of the poor still permeates society in El Salvador, now manifested in the form of gang violence and heightened crime in general; the raping of the land and natural resources by "first world" enterprises so that the few can be enriched; and a spiraling maelstrom of poverty that is multiplied by the forces of globalization and treaties such as the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement.
The truth of Romero's call to accompaniment remains the same today as it was 31 years ago; only circumstances have changed. An oppression of the poor still permeates society in El Salvador, now manifested in the form of gang violence and heightened crime in general; the raping of the land and natural resources by "first world" enterprises so that the few can be enriched; and a spiraling maelstrom of poverty that is multiplied by the forces of globalization and treaties such as the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement.
As Romero knew and preached, oppression can only be addressed and therefore canceled by those with influence. Those of you receiving this e-zine letter are among those that Romero was speaking to when he asked that people of faith join hand-in-hand with his Salvadoran flock. And as Romero reminded us above, the poor and oppressed, besides being human beings, are divine beings; anything that is done for them is done for Christ. And any oppression against them is oppression against the Lord as well.
We are grateful for the sacrifice of Archbishop Romero. We remember him again this March 24, the anniversary of his martyrdom for his beloved Salvadoran people.