Remembering Archbishop Oscar Romero in a season of repentance

By Scott Wright
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Ignatian Volunteer Corps

Today marks the 46th anniversary of the death of St. Oscar Romero, the Salvadoran archbishop who was martyred at the altar while celebrating mass, just one day after calling on the security forces and military in his country to stop the repression against the people

Today in parishes across the United States, in communities along the US-Mexico border, and in front of ICE offices, people will gather to commemorate Romero’s life in Lenten vigils and services, and voice their indignation for the continuing attacks against immigrant families and communities by ICE agents, and a policy of mass detention and mass deportation that Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso has said constitutes “a grave moral evil.”

What would Archbishop Romero say today, if he were proclaiming the Gospel in these times? 

What would he say about ICE raids on immigrant communities, and the treatment of migrants and immigrants in our country? What would he say about the US-Israeli war against Iran and the continuing aggression against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank? What would he say about corruption, the diversion of crucial resources for people who are poor in order to fuel obscene military budgets, and the growing disparity between rich and poor in our nation and in the world? 

In these times of crisis for our country and our world, we seek to reclaim the prophetic tradition of the Church to speak up more vigorously in defense of people who are poor and the victims of war, following the example of the martyred archbishop. Romero was a pastor, first and foremost, and truly humble, but he spoke with great passion from the Gospel in defense of those on the margins:

“A Church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a Gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a Word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a Word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is proclaimed – what Gospel is that?”

During this Lenten season, we want to call attention to some of the most painful signs of our time and shine the light of the Gospel on these events in history. We witness increasing attacks by ICE on immigrant families and immigrant communities, and the increasing militarization of US borders; and a growing opposition in our country against the US-Israeli war in Iran and increasing attacks against Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza with mounting casualties and no end in sight.

Archbishop Romero knew very well that the Gospel mandates the Church to exercise its influence in the public arena, offering pastoral judgments on issues of human dignity and human rights, of war and peace, and national security and the economy, bearing witness to the Gospel and Catholic social teaching – as Pope Leo is doing today, by calling the faithful to clear ethical and moral actions. 

What would Saint Oscar Romero say in our times?

No doubt he would condemn, as did prominent US cardinals and bishops are doing today, the war on Iran as preemptive and a violation of international law. Based on his passionate defense of people who are poor and the victims of war in El Salvador during his three years as archbishop, he no doubt would also condemn US support for the current Israeli occupation and aggression against Palestinian communities as morally unjust and a violation of international law.

He would certainly condemn the use or defense of torture, under any circumstances, by any person or government, as a gross violation of human rights and an offense against God. “Whoever tortures a human being, whoever abuses a human being, whoever outrages a human being abuses God’s image.”

Romero would also condemn the growing national security ideology of our own government that institutionalizes lying and deception to pursue an agenda that favors US geopolitical and economic interests. Quoting the Latin American bishops in Puebla, Archbishop Romero criticized the ideology of national security as “a new form of idolatry… leading to the abuse of power and the violation of human rights.” “In some instances,” he said, “they presume to justify their positions with a subjective profession of Christian faith.”

Romero would not be silent today. He would speak for the civilians at risk in Iran, Israel and Palestine, and Lebanon, and for their anxious and grieving families. He would offer pastoral guidelines and encouragement, proclaiming the duty of every Christian and citizen to resist war as a grave moral evil. And he would remind every soldier – as he did in his famous last homily – of the duty of conscience to obey God’s law before obeying an unjust order to kill.

He would certainly question – in the tradition of Catholic social teaching – a blatant US and Israeli unilateralism that defies international opinion, violates international treaties, and declares itself exempt from international law, including the Geneva Conventions. And he would point the way toward peace, calling for greater justice, greater cooperation among nations, and greater commitment to a peaceful resolution of grave international conflicts. 

We have no doubt he would repeat with passion – because he knew intimately the destructive capacity of violence and war – the words of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, “War no more, war never again!” and “War is a defeat for humanity!”

He would condemn every attack on immigrants, and lift up the Gospel command to offer hospitality to the stranger. And he would certainly condemn as “institutionalized violence” and “idolatry” – as he did with his bishop colleagues at Puebla – a global economic model that “absolutizes wealth and private property,” and absolutizes military expenditures, depriving those without access to dignified work, essential natural resources and services – including water, health care, education, and social security.

As we commemorate this anniversary of the martyrdom of a humble and faithful pastor, prophet, and martyr from El Salvador, we call on Catholic religious leaders and faithful alike to speak out in defense of immigrant families and immigrant communities, and against racism and violence; to use positions of influence, and to offer another way.

Lent is a season of repentance, a time for conversion. Let us be faithful to the spirit of this season, and worthy of the legacy of Saint Oscar Romero, by our actions for justice and the risks we take for peace, by our boldness in proclaiming the Gospel and the courage to bear the cost.