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, likely trained in U.S. former military captain, likely trained in U.S.

You can tell the people that if they succeed in killing me, that I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully, they will realize they are wasting their time. A bishop will die, but the church of God, which is the people, will never perish.

El Salvador Civil War: Civil War: ,000 Salvadorans killed 75,000 Salvadorans killed Thousands “disappeared” Thousands “disappeared” Why? Why? Tremendous poverty and inequality Tremendous poverty and inequality Short history of democracy (colonialization) Short history of democracy (colonialization) Fight between capitalists and Marxists Fight between capitalists and Marxists

Liberation Theology 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 Salvation not just in the future Identifies Jesus’ presence with the poor Identifies Jesus’ presence with the poor Critiques religion for supporting the powerful and condoning suffering and injustice Critiques religion for supporting the powerful and condoning suffering and injustice Focus is on practice Focus is on practice Orthopraxis, not just orthodoxy Orthopraxis, not just orthodoxy

Basis for liberation theology 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 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? This injustice leads to death This injustice leads to death Inflicted by causes Inflicted by causes Has religious significance: God is present Has religious significance: God is present Crucified peoples are “principle sign of the times” (51) Crucified peoples are “principle sign of the times” (51) Main principle: God can be found in the present “signs of the times” (Vat. II) Main principle: God can be found in the present “signs of the times” (Vat. II)

Yahweh’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) Comes from Isaiah (52-53, etc.) Comes from Isaiah (52-53, etc.) God’s chosen servant God’s chosen servant Experiences great suffering Experiences great suffering His death frees people (“By his wounds we are healed”, Isa. 53) His death frees people (“By his wounds we are healed”, Isa. 53) Latin Americans in poverty bear strong resemblance Latin Americans in poverty bear strong resemblance

Questions Is it appropriate to compare the suffering of El Salvador to Jesus? Is it appropriate to compare the suffering of El Salvador to Jesus? How does this comparison shed light on who Jesus is? On who the poor of Latin American are? How does this comparison shed light on who Jesus is? On who the poor of Latin American are? How does this image help us to “grasp our deepest reality” (53)? How does this image help us to “grasp our deepest reality” (53)?

Questions What is the salvation that the crucified peoples bring? How is this different from other ways of thinking about salvation? What is the salvation that the crucified peoples bring? How is this different from other ways of thinking about salvation? Does this reading reveal truth? Does this reading reveal truth? Does it motivate you to act (orthopraxis)? Does it motivate you to act (orthopraxis)?