Archbishop Oscar RomeroArchbishop Oscar Romero

Became archbishop of San Salvador in Became archbishop of San Salvador in 19771977 Initially cautious, not politicalInitially cautious, not political

Became outspoken critic of abuses in El Became outspoken critic of abuses in El SalvadorSalvador

Murdered while saying mass in 1980 by a Murdered while saying mass in 1980 by a paramilitary death squad assassin paramilitary death squad assassin former military captain, trained in U.S., fled to former military captain, trained in U.S., fled to

U.S.U.S.

Liberation TheologyLiberation Theology

Interpret Gospel in one’s own social contextInterpret Gospel in one’s own social context Focuses on how Jesus’ message liberates Focuses on how Jesus’ message liberates

people, especially the poorpeople, especially the poor Salvation not just in the future, but has Salvation not just in the future, but has

consequences in this lifeconsequences in this life Identifies Jesus’ presence with the poor and Identifies Jesus’ presence with the poor and

sufferingsuffering Catholic teaching: “preferential option for the poor”Catholic teaching: “preferential option for the poor”

Critiques religion for supporting the powerful and Critiques religion for supporting the powerful and condoning injusticecondoning injustice

Focus on orthopraxis, not just orthodoxyFocus on orthopraxis, not just orthodoxy

Basis for liberation theologyBasis for liberation theology

Belief in Incarnation, ProphetsBelief in Incarnation, Prophets Second Vatican Council (1962-65)Second Vatican Council (1962-65)

Read “signs of the times”Read “signs of the times” Latin American bishops’ conferencesLatin American bishops’ conferences

MedellMedellíín, Colombia (1968)n, 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.Jon Sobrino, S.J.

Spanish Jesuit who has spent most of Spanish Jesuit who has spent most of his adult life in El Salvadorhis adult life in El Salvador

Six of his Jesuit brothers murdered in Six of his Jesuit brothers murdered in 19891989

““The Crucified Peoples”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 injusticeCross = death inflicted by injustice Has religious significance: “evokes sin and Has religious significance: “evokes sin and

grace, condemnation and salvation, human grace, condemnation and salvation, human action and God’s action” (51)action and God’s action” (51)

Crucified peoples are “principal sign of the Crucified peoples are “principal sign of the times” (51)times” (51)

Main principle: God can be found in the Main principle: God can be found in the “signs of the times” (Vat. II)“signs of the times” (Vat. II)

The Lord’s suffering servantThe Lord’s suffering servant

Crucified people and Christ, Yahweh’s Crucified people and Christ, Yahweh’s servant, “refer to and explain each other” servant, “refer to and explain each other” (p. 51)(p. 51) Method: earlier scriptures provide the language Method: earlier scriptures provide the language

for interpreting a new experiencefor interpreting a new experience Comes from Isaiah’s “servant songs” (from Isa. Comes from Isaiah’s “servant songs” (from Isa.

42-53)42-53) SalvationSalvation

For the crucified peoplesFor the crucified peoples Through the crucified peoplesThrough the crucified peoples

Sobrino, “The Crucified Sobrino, “The Crucified Peoples”Peoples”

How do Christ and the crucified peoples How do Christ and the crucified peoples refer to and explain each other? refer to and explain each other? Why is the name “crucified peoples” Why is the name “crucified peoples”

necessary?necessary? How/why is God present in them?How/why is God present in them? How do the crucified peoples offer/mediate How do the crucified peoples offer/mediate

salvation?salvation? Why/how should they be taken down from Why/how should they be taken down from

their cross?their cross?