A word that bothers many

"The word that bothers many, liberation, is a reality of the redemption of Christ.   Liberation means the redemption of humankind, not only after death - such that they are told to 'resign yourselves in this life.'   No, liberation means that there is no exploitation in this world of human beings by other human beings.   Liberation means redemption that wants to free humankind from so many kinds of slavery: the slavery of illiteracy, the slavery of being hungry because  of not having enough to buy food, the slavery  of not having a roof over your head, of not having anywhere to live.   Slavery, misery, all of this goes together."

These words of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador were read at Saint Paul's Cathedral, London, on Sunday 18 May, 2008.  Saint Paul's in the City of London is the heart of the Anglican Church in England, and a national icon - the scene of many historic services of sorrow, rejoicing and thanksgiving.   On this occasion it was a  Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of the Very Reverend Alan Webster, Dean of Saint Paul's from 1978 to 1987, who died on September 3, 2007. I first met Alan when he led an ecumenical group, under the auspices of the Catholic Institute for International Relations, to Central America in 1986.   He kept the suffering people of that region in his mind and heart forever after.  I felt honoured and privileged to have been invited to this Service, and especially to have been asked to read the above words from the writings of Archbishop Romero.   The distinguished audience included Alan Webster's widow, Margaret, their daughter and sons and other family members, representatives of Her Majesty the Queen and of the Prince of Wales (Alan Webster married Charles and Diana) and many well-known figures of our national ecclesial and political life.    It was thrilling to read Oscar Romero's words in that magnificent building, to that audience.  

Inevitably, one's thoughts went to another country, Zimbabwe, where the people are suffering from the kinds of slavery Archbishop Romero identified so clearly.   Here too the people's struggle for democracy has brought violence, torture and death, which continues even in spite of the criticism voiced by Church leaders and international heads of state.   Archbishop Romero repeatedly denounced from the pulpit of the Cathedral the situation of violence and terror in which El Salvador was engulfed, and on 23 March 1980, he made a heartfelt plea from the pulpit to the army for the repression to stop.   This was one word too many: the next day a single bullet fired from the back of the church killed him at the altar as he was celebrating the Eucharist.  

The people of Latin America, for whom Romero is already 'Santo Romero de las Americas', are looking forward to the day when their Archbishop will be acclaimed as a Saint.   Official proceedings are underway in Rome - those wishing to be kept informed of this process can contact the Archbishop Romero Trust (opens in a new window). Perhaps we can join in asking Oscar Romero to pray for the liberation of the people of Zimbabwe, as he prayed for the liberation of his beloved Salvadoreans.
                                                                 
OSCAR  ROMERO,  PRAY FOR ZIMBABWE!