Archbishop Oscar Romero Became archbishop of San Salvador in 1977 Became archbishop of San Salvador in 1977 Initially cautious, not political Initially cautious, not political Became outspoken critic of abuses in El Salvador Became outspoken critic of abuses in El Salvador Murdered while saying mass in 1980 by a paramilitary death squad assassin Murdered while saying mass in 1980 by a paramilitary death squad assassin former military captain, trained in U.S., fled to U.S. former military captain, trained in U.S., fled to U.S.

Liberation Theology Interpret Gospel in one’s own social context Interpret Gospel in one’s own social context Focuses on how Jesus’ message liberates people, especially the poor Focuses on how Jesus’ message liberates people, especially the poor Salvation not just in the future, but has consequences in this life Salvation not just in the future, but has consequences in this life Identifies Jesus’ presence with the poor and suffering Identifies Jesus’ presence with the poor and suffering Catholic teaching: “preferential option for the poor” Catholic teaching: “preferential option for the poor” Critiques religion for supporting the powerful and condoning injustice Critiques religion for supporting the powerful and condoning injustice Focus on orthopraxis, not just orthodoxy Focus on orthopraxis, not just orthodoxy

Basis for liberation theology Belief in Incarnation, Prophets Belief in Incarnation, Prophets Second Vatican Council ( ) Second Vatican Council ( ) Read “signs of the times” Read “signs of the times” Latin American bishops’ conferences Latin American bishops’ conferences Medellín, Colombia (1968) Medellín, Colombia (1968) Puebla, Mexico (1979) Puebla, Mexico (1979) World Synod of Bishops (1971) World Synod of Bishops (1971) “Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church's mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.”

Jon Sobrino, S.J. Spanish Jesuit who has spent most of his adult life in El Salvador Spanish Jesuit who has spent most of his adult life in El Salvador Six of his Jesuit brothers murdered in 1989 Six of his Jesuit brothers murdered in 1989

“The Crucified Peoples” Why the name? Is it justified? Why the name? Is it justified? Our common names are inadequate (50) Our common names are inadequate (50) Cross = death inflicted by injustice Cross = death inflicted by injustice Has religious significance: “evokes sin and grace, condemnation and salvation, human action and God’s action” (51) Has religious significance: “evokes sin and grace, condemnation and salvation, human action and God’s action” (51) Crucified peoples are “principal sign of the times” (51) Crucified peoples are “principal sign of the times” (51) Main principle: God can be found in the “signs of the times” (Vat. II) Main principle: God can be found in the “signs of the times” (Vat. II)

The Lord’s suffering servant Crucified people and Christ, Yahweh’s servant, “refer to and explain each other” (p. 51) Crucified people and Christ, Yahweh’s servant, “refer to and explain each other” (p. 51) Method: earlier scriptures provide the language for interpreting a new experience Method: earlier scriptures provide the language for interpreting a new experience Comes from Isaiah’s “servant songs” (from Isa ) Comes from Isaiah’s “servant songs” (from Isa ) Salvation Salvation For the crucified peoples For the crucified peoples Through the crucified peoples Through the crucified peoples

Sobrino, “The Crucified Peoples” How do Christ and the crucified peoples refer to and explain each other? How do Christ and the crucified peoples refer to and explain each other? Why is the name “crucified peoples” necessary? Why is the name “crucified peoples” necessary? How/why is God present in them? How/why is God present in them? How do the crucified peoples offer/mediate salvation? How do the crucified peoples offer/mediate salvation? Why/how should they be taken down from their cross? Why/how should they be taken down from their cross?