Oscar Romero: A Voice of the Voiceless

Today is the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, one of the great witnesses in our times of justice and solidarity with those on those on the margins. Pilar Hogan Closkey, who serves as Executive Director of Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society in Camden, New Jersey, shared these reflections at a special gathering that was part of an Oscar Romero Day of Commitment, organized by the World Meeting of Families Hunger and Homelessness Committee. 

"Those who surrender to the service of the poor through love of Christ, will live like the grains of wheat that dies. It only apparently dies. If it were not to die, it would remain a solitary grain. The harvest comes because of the grain that dies. We know that every effort to improve society, above all when society is so full of injustice and sin, is an effort that God blesses; that God wants; that God demands of us."

These are words spoken by Archbishop Oscar Romero just minutes before he was assassinated.  In his moment of martyrdom, he continued to be a “voice of the voiceless,” even as he faced death.

In 1970, Oscar Romero became bishop of Santiago de María in El Salvador. In 1977, he was the surprise choice to succeed the highly regarded Archbishop Chavez, who had been Archbishop of San Salvador since 1938. Chávez was a staunch defender of the poor.  Romero, on the other hand, was considered a safe choice who had been critical of progressive nuns and priests.  It was said that the government and upper class reaction was jubilant.

But that reaction had to be quickly altered. Right after he became Archbishop, government troops opened fire on a group of peasants protesting in the main plaza of the capital. Soon after, Romero’s friend, Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, was gunned down by government operatives because of his defense of the poor. During this period six priests were assassinated by death-squads.

Romero played down the idea that he underwent a deep conversion; he called it an “evolution.” But it is clear, that a profound transformation took place in him and how he saw his role. He became the “voice of the voiceless” and defended his activist priests and the poor. He sought out and listened to advice from all quarters. He was convinced that the Spirit was speaking through the sufferings of the poor.

His legacy is summarized in his homilies, his four pastoral letters and a few other major addresses. Each of the letters responds to specific needs and gives voice to the poor. His homilies were broadcast to the nation by radio and strongly denounced injustice and announced hope.

During this period El Salvador was embroiled in a civil war that would kill over 75,000 people – mostly poor. The military, supported by the U.S. government, backed wealthy landowners in their efforts to suppress all grass root movements. Romero, however, strongly supported popular, community organizations. He publicly condemned the killing of the innocent and the political system that supported it. Remaining humble, he did not shy away from criticism of himself or of the church.

In spite of his efforts to open dialogue with government and military leaders and with the wealthy, his stance provoked fierce opposition. And as opposition grew, he seemed clearly to know that he was a target.

On Sunday, March 23, 1980, he preached for the last time in the cathedral. His homily was wide ranging and shows how close he was to his people. He spoke for over an hour unfolding the scripture texts for the fourth Sunday in Lent. His main theme was human dignity and liberation. He touched on very practical issues such as the advancement of women and the need for the church to be open to change. Toward the end of the homily, he turned to the events of the week. The repression, and killings, of the poor and priests weighed heavily on his heart. He appealed to the civil government, the military and the wealthy, but he spoke directly to soldiers, national guardsmen, and police. He begged them, he ordered them, to stop the killing.

The next day – 35 years ago today – Archbishop Romero was murdered while celebrating mass. To the end, he was the good shepherd, killed for his flock. He never gave up on his people, or even on their enemies. He never gave up on the “dangerous memory” of Jesus. He never gave up on the future of the church but he clearly understood the cost of discipleship.  “To follow faithfully the pope’s magisterium in theory is very easy. But when you try to live those teachings, try to incarnate them, try to make them reality in the history of a suffering people like ours – that is when conflicts arise.”

His faithful grasp of the future was so strong that two weeks before his death, he had already forgiven his killers. “If they kill me, I will rise again in the people of El Salvador…You can tell them, if they succeed in killing me, that I pardon them, and I bless those who may carry out the killing. But I wish that they could realize that they are wasting their time. A bishop will die, but the church of God – the people – will never die.”

Romero, like Pope Francis today, wants us to try to fit ourselves into the shoes of the “other” – the poor – and overcome our “global culture of indifference.”  Many years ago he said:  “There are many things that can only be seen through the eyes that have cried.”

Pope Francis and Oscar Romero bring sacrament and service together.  Both men realize the need for conversion and put emphasis on the option for the poor and the need to fight structural sin.  At first glance San Salvador might seem a long way from Philadelphia and Camden. But perhaps not when you consider two points: the impact of long term poverty, prejudice, powerlessness, and violence against people; and, second, the staying power and spirit of committed faith communities. 

We must all be a “voice of the voiceless.” We must all follow the “dangerous memory” of our soon-to-be Saint Oscar Romero.

See also the op-ed from the March 22 Philadelphia Inquirer by Archbishop Charles Chaput.

Click here for more information on the World Meeting of Families Hunger and Homelessness Committee.