Oscar Romero

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Originally uploaded by paynehollow.

Óscar Romero (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980), commonly known as Monseñor Romero, was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in El Salvador. He later became prelate archbishop of San Salvador.

As an archbishop, he witnessed numerous violations of human rights and began a ministry speaking out on behalf of the poor and victims of the country's civil war. His brand of political activism was denounced by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and the government of El Salvador. In 1980, he was assassinated by gunshot while consecrating the Eucharist during mass. His death finally provoked international outcry for human rights reform in El Salvador.

Jeff Street often recalls the powerful testimony of Romero and his authentic Christian teachings.

For more info on Romero, click here.

On March 23, Romero delivered his final sermon before being assassinated. There were soldiers in the crowd as he said:

Brothers, you are from the same people; you kill your fellow peasant... No soldier is obliged to obey an order that is contrary to the will of God...

There was thunderous applause; he was inviting the army to mutiny. Then his voice burst,

In the name of God then, in the name of this suffering people I ask you, I beg you, I command you in the name of God: stop the repression.