The movie did a good job of portraying the complexity of the situation in which Abp. Oscar Romero found himself. El Salvador was ruled by a handful of land owning families. The poor were disenfranchised. Romero, who was from a wealthy family himself, and was considered to be on the side of the wealthy establishment, found himself more and more drawn side with the poor. However, he could not take the side of the Liberation theologians and the radical Jesuit Marxists.
Caught between the two extremes he simply preached the gospel principles of forgiveness, justice and peace. He called for both sides to repudiate violence, for the rich to help the poor and for the whole country to work together as brothers.
Tomorrow morning bright and early I'm off to El Salvador on our annual school mission trip. Seventeen teenagers and four chaperones. Among other things we'll visit an outpost of the Missionaries of Charity, the tomb of Oscar Romero and the church where he was assassinated. We'll work at the CIDECO village, swelter in the heat and have a wonderful, life changing experience.
Spare a prayer for us, and see you when we get back, and Oscar Romero pray for us!
