12A Tomkins, A Short History of Christianity 238-243

            In chapter nine of Stephen Tomkin’s A Short History of Christianity, he talks about the conditions of the Catholic Church under the great and almost immortal Pope John Paul II. Tomkins describes the Pope as a “progressive” and “conservative” who promised not to bring back the values of the old Catholic Church, but to push for a new, modern face of the Church. Pope John Paul II also argued for rights and religious freedom and had a more liberal stance when it came to foreign relations. However, in this chapter, Tomkins mentions another important and powerful priest who also argued for people’s rights and religious tolerance. His name was Bishop Oscar Romero.

            As Archbishop of San Salvador, Father Romero was a source of strength and hope for the poor and for the oppressed of his country, working with and for them, taking their struggles as his own. Romero wrote and spoke passionately and publicly of the need for Christians to work for justice, frequently faced with threat and danger from those who opposed his ideas. On March 24, 1980, while celebrating the Eucharist, Archbishop Romero was shot and killed at the altar by a death squad assassin, paying the highest price for the commitment about which he spoke so often and so eloquently. Because of his courageous stand for justice, he became a martyr not only for poor Salvadorians but for all struggling to overcome oppression and poverty. Today, his sermons are read as powerful reminders of Christians' obligation to fight for a just society. Shortly before he was murdered, Romero said: "It is my hope that my blood will be the seed of freedom and the sign that hope will soon be reality" The example of Romero's courageous life and ultimately death continue to inspire those who struggle for human dignity and justice.

            In conclusion, both Pope John Paul II and Bishop Oscar Romero were revolutionaries during a time of desperate need for both of their countries/churches. I recently read an article about Bishop Oscar Romero and how the Vatican blocked his canonization because they did not want to impose a liberal stance for revolutionary figures. However, to great joy, I read another article about a few months later on how Pope Francis is now “unblocking” the canonization of Bishop Oscar Romero and is now pushing for his sainthood.