Life, Work and Exemplary Role Model of Bishop Oscar Romero and His Ecclesiastical Mission within The Socio-political Reality of El Salvador

• Main Authors: Chang, Ning-Jui, 張寧芮
• Other Authors: José Ernesto Parra Cortés
• Format: Others
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75882873917773201134

碩士 === 靜宜大學 === 西班牙語文學系 === 103 === During the 1970s, several Salvadoran leftist political organizations suffered violent repression by a military junta. These organizations demanded an equitable redistribution of wealth, which was in the hands of the traditional oligarchy. However, that small number of aristocrats controlled the government following the doctrine of "national security", which was handed down by the United States and suffocated anyone with leftist, communist and socialist orientation. The protests of peasants and workers from those leftist organizations demanding social justice were led mostly by social agents including members of the Catholic Church. These pastoral agents had been influenced by the new guidelines of the documents issued by the Second Vatican Council and the Conference of Puebla and Medellin. This new direction also matched the approaches of Liberation Theology, which betted on help and human promotion preferentially directed towards the poor. Due to these demands and motivated by the crisis caused by the repressive military government, a spiritual and peaceful authority emerged: Monsignor Romero. This Archbishop was a leader of fundamental human rights, a prophet of God who defended the cause of the oppressed to become the voice for them. Furthermore, he demanded and clamored for decent living conditions for all Salvadorans. The evangelist, but revolutionary message of this pastor was misinterpreted by the rightist government who accused him of being a subversive agitator promoting the popular revolt, which then led to his assassination in 1980. This murder, in combination with the deaths of so many other Christian martyrs or agents of social promotion, sparked a bloody civil war that devastated the country for twelve years. However, Romero’s selfless commitment has now been accepted and recognized as saintly by the Magisterium of the Church and the greatness of his deeds has been honored over time. He has become the symbol of social justice and peaceful coexistence. Also, he’s the exemplary pastor who gave his life for love and service to the most vulnerable and excluded people of the society. This research analyzes the historical, political, social and ecclesial steps of El Salvador to explain the value of the message of Romero. This Archbishop will continue to set the spiritual path for people across America and all around the world who look for equity, peace and prosperity.