Pastel drawing of Oscar Romero
J. Puig Reixach (2013)
Today marks the elevation of Salvadorean Archbishop Oscar Romero to sainthood in the Roman Catholic church. Romero was assassinated by government death squad agents while celebrating the mass in 1980. At his funeral a number of mourners were shot and killed.The government of El Salvador finally took responsibility for his death.
During the past three decades Romero became an inspiration for Christians around the world for his faithful witness and his story has been told in countless United Church sermons.
This past week the 1989 film called simply Romero was re-released to commemorate his courage and today's recognition. Here is a portion of one description of the plot, which is the story of the political situation at the time as well as Romero's personal transformation.
During the 1977 El Salvadoran presidential election, public unrest is at an all-time high over fears of election fraud. In the midst of a guerrilla uprising, the military regime sends death squads to detain, torture and kill anyone who speaks out against its terrible human rights record. The military also prevents average citizens from getting to the polls; soldiers are shown blocking a bus bringing people to town on election day. When the people decide to walk, the military shoots up their vans so that they have no transportation for the return journey.
The Vatican elevates conservative yet reserved Oscar Arnulfo Romero (Raul Julia) to the position of Archbishop of San Salvador, hoping that with he will not get involved in the military dispute. Although apolitical, Romero is afraid of the government's increasing hostility. He initially refrains from stirring anti-government sentiments, but progressively, as he spends more time in his post, he sees evidence of deception, oppression, and systemic murder, after which he cannot support the government in good conscience and speaks out. After the assassination of Father Rutilio Grande (Richard Jordan), an outspoken Jesuit advocate for the poor and close friend of Father Romero's, Romero begins to take a stand against the government's policies, prompting the death squads to begin targeting priests.
I would encourage you to find the film and watch it. Romero does a fine job of inviting us to ask what we might do to be faithful to Christ in circumstances where doing so might lead to personal harm and even death.
Have you seen Romero? Are you curious?
Today's Groundling blog is a reflection on our recent time spent on the south shore of Nova Scotia.
https://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2018/10/creationtide.html
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