| − | '''Oscar Romero''' (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980) [[Archbishop]] of [[El Salvador]] from 1977 to 1980. Romero's call for human rights and social justice led to his assassination on March 24 1980 by [[right wing]] [[terrorists]]. The Archbishop was shot as he conducted mass. Ironically, given his iconic status as a [[champion]] of the poor and oppressed, Romero was initially regarded as a [[conservative]] by many in El Salvador. Many of the clergy associated with the so called '[[liberation theology]]' movement were dismayed by his appointment. However a growing realization of the grinding poverty endured by ordinary Salvadoreans and of the brutal nature of the government led him to become increasingly outspoken in his criticism. A [[UN]] report in 1993 identified Roberto D'Aubuisson as the man who ordered the assassination. D'Aubuisson founded the right wing ARENA party, currently in power, and organized [[death squad]]s to carry out political assassinations and other human rights abuses. | + | '''Oscar Romero''' (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980) [[Archbishop]] of [[El Salvador]] from 1977 to 1980. Romero's call for human rights and social justice led to his assassination on March 24, 1980 by [[right wing]] [[terrorists]]. The Archbishop was shot as he conducted mass. Ironically, given his iconic status as a [[champion]] of the poor and oppressed, Romero was initially regarded as a [[conservative]] by many in El Salvador. Many of the clergy associated with the so called '[[liberation theology]]' movement were dismayed by his appointment. However a growing realization of the grinding poverty endured by ordinary Salvadoreans and of the brutal nature of the government led him to become increasingly outspoken in his criticism. A [[UN]] report in 1993 identified Roberto D'Aubuisson as the man who ordered the assassination. D'Aubuisson founded the right wing ARENA party, currently in power, and organized [[death squad]]s to carry out political assassinations and other human rights abuses. |
| | Archbishop Romero is one of the ten 20th century [[Christian]] [[martyrs]] commemorated in Westminster Abbey, England. Other martyrs in this group include victims of both the [[Communists]] and [[Nazis]]. | | Archbishop Romero is one of the ten 20th century [[Christian]] [[martyrs]] commemorated in Westminster Abbey, England. Other martyrs in this group include victims of both the [[Communists]] and [[Nazis]]. |