In countries around the world this week, church leaders and Christians of all different
denominations are marking the 31st anniversary of the assassination of
Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero. Known by people in El Salvador simply as
‘Monsegnor’, Archbishop Romero was shot dead on March 24th 1980, while
saying Mass in the small chapel of a hospital where he lived in the capital San Salvador.
In just three years after being appointed to the archdiocese, Romero became an increasingly
outspoken opponent of the government and military leadership, making public each week
a list of the victims of violence and repression. The day before his assassination,
he openly challenged the military leadership in a homily broadcast across the country,
urging soldiers not to follow orders and kill or oppress their fellow citizens. Over
three decades on from his death, Romero is revered by many as ‘the voice of voiceless’,
an inspirational figure for all who struggle to uphold the gospel values of human
dignity, justice and peace. Philippa Hitchen spoke with the former director of
the English Catholic aid agency CAFOD, Julian Filochowsky, who is also the founder
of the Romero Trust set up to promote greater awareness of the life and legacy of
the assassinated archbishop of San Salvador….