Oscar Romero

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. Romero was shot to death as he said mass in San Salvador, El Salvador. As some members of the clergy go out of their way align themselves with state power, Romero warned about the folly of such actions.

The church, he announced, is “not to be measured by the government’s support but rather by its own authenticity, its evangelical spirit of prayer, trust, sincerity and justice, its opposition to abuses.”

We live in a different country and in a new century, but we would do well to remember Romero and his ministry, especially on Good Friday.