by James Gallagher; reprinted with permission; first
published for Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Prayers 4 Peace email May
21, 2026; written in the form of a letter; See their website www.cmep.org; and blog, Prayers4Peace: https://cmep.org/p4p-blog/
After years of unrest in the Middle East, many of us may
feel dismayed, or even hopeless. From a Christian lens, witnessing the tragic
ongoing humanitarian crises, the horrifying loss of life, armed conflicts, and
heightened political tensions ignites a sense of empathy and sorrow for God’s
suffering people. The horrific injustices also stir up a desire to bring
Christ-like peace to our broken world; however, where do we begin? How can such
massive issues be addressed? Today, I would like to provide an example for
modern Christians seeking to make a positive difference in a world dominated by
political oppression. The life and works of Saint Óscar Romero can serve as a
wonderful blueprint for how Christians today can advocate for peace and
justice.
After his birth in El Salvador in 1917, Romero grew up as a
kind and shy child who enjoyed studying and learning carpentry. Later, at the
age of 13, Romero felt a call from God to become a Catholic priest. He was
ordained a priest at the age of 25 in Rome, and ultimately became the
Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 1977. During this
time, El Salvador was experiencing political tensions, severe poverty, and
elitist control of power. The elites were pleased with Romero’s appointment because
they believed that he would not oppose their rule due to his shy demeanor. To
control the nation, the government elites used death squads to eliminate those
who were deemed enemies of the regime. Civilians, and even priests, were
regularly killed by the death squads. Tragically, Romero’s close friend, Father
Rutilio Grande, was assassinated by a government death squad only weeks after
Romero was appointed Archbishop. Grande was targeted because he advocated for
the poor and vulnerable, which angered the political elites because they wanted
to maintain their share of the nation’s riches.
The death of his friend profoundly impacted Romero, who soon
became outspoken about the injustices facing his country. Romero began
documenting injustices on his radio program, such as disappearances, murders,
and torture carried out by the government. Romero became well known for his
defense of the poor and vulnerable in society. He called for an end to
government violence, along with the social and economic injustices facing
impoverished Salvadorians. Romero also encouraged his listeners to be “God’s microphones,”
calling Salvadorians to be messengers and prophets for God’s peace. Millions of
Salvadorians heard Romero’s messages, and he became known as the “voice for the
voiceless.” Romero believed that through political demonstration and
organization, real change could be made, and that Christians have a moral duty
to aid and defend the poor and vulnerable.
In 1980, Romero wrote a letter to American President Jimmy
Carter, cautioning the United States that sending military aid to the
Salvadorian regime would only increase the level of injustice in El Salvador.
On the radio, Romero directly addressed the Salvadoran military to stop killing
civilians, stating, “No soldier is obliged to obey an order that goes against
the law of God.” The government saw Romero’s advocacy for the poor and his
calls for peace as a threat to their power, and a gunman assassinated Romero as
he celebrated Mass. While Romero’s life ended, the spirit of his advocacy has
lived on in El Salvador and around the world. In honor of his devotion to
protecting the poor and defending human rights, Óscar Romero was canonized as a
Saint by Pope Francis in 2018.
Romero’s life, while heartbreakingly cut short, provides
modern-day Christians with several examples of how to spark change. Through his
courage to speak up against injustice, Romero calls us to also be “God’s
microphones,” and to acknowledge that safeguarding peace by speaking out
against unjust government acts is a Christian moral responsibility. While the
radio may be slightly outdated, organizations like CMEP provide Christians with
an outlet to be the “voice for the voiceless.” As Christians, if our government
is engaging in acts that violate human rights, we must speak out. Whether
through protest, through contacting elected officials, or advocating for
justice with CMEP, Christians today should take concrete action to stand up
against evil, as Romero did during his lifetime. Even when justice seemed
impossible, Romero never lost faith and continued to courageously advocate for
peace and safety in his nation. We too, inspired by Romero’s fortitude, should
remain hopeful in our advocacy efforts. Whether connected with CMEP’s mission,
or in our own lives, let us remember St. Óscar Romero as an example of how to
stand up against government oppression.
With God’s love,
James Gallagher
James Gallagher is a junior at The George Washington
University studying International Affairs with a Concentration in European
Studies and a Certificate in French language and culture. James has previously
interned at The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change,
where he studied Kingian nonviolence and social justice principles and authored
a research paper on inequalities within the American public school system. He
also worked as a leader for the GW Pre-College Summer Program, where he taught
courses in financial literacy and professional networking, guided cultural
excursions throughout DC, and oversaw student safety.
No comments:
Post a Comment