ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO

MARCH 24, 2005  THE 25th ANNIVERSARY Born on August 15, 1917, Oscar Arnulfo Romero was installed as the archbishop of San Salvador on February 22, 1977, amid growing social and political tension in El Salvador.  During his tenure as archbishop, Romero evolved from an apolitical compromise choice for the Church to an outspoken voice of the lower class.

Shortly after Romero’s ascension to archbishop, his friend, Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande was murdered along with an old man and a young boy.  These murders ignited Romero’s growing suspicion of the death squads that had serves as assassins for the government, and trained by the United States.  Romero spoke out against the murders at masses and in radio broadcasts. In this way, Romero became a voice for liberation theology, which calls for Christian involvement in the political arena to speak out against violations of human rights.  It was for this belief and message that Romero was assassinated by one of the very death squads he spoke out against. Since his assassination on March 24, 1980, Romero has become a martyr for the masses of the lower class who seek to displace the reigning government and the oligarchic class system.

Although a full investigation was never carried out, Romero’s murder is widely believed to have been on the orders of Roberto D’Aubuisson, a graduate of the U.S. Army School of the Americas.

The Little Book of Monseñor Romero  -Available in University Ministry! This collection of quotes of the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador compiled by Don Mullan, is available in University Ministry, AMU 236, for $5.00 while supplies last!  Proceeds will support the Marquette student delegation to the Ignatian Family Teach-In.