Thursday, December 04, 2014

Romero Fnd'n Condemns D'Aubuisson Tribute



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From the Archbishop Oscar A. Romero Foundation to the People of God and to the general public:
[Super Martyrio Translation]

This past week we heard the announcement by the Mayor of San Salvador Norman Quijano that all City Council members had approved changing the name of “St. Anthony Abbott Street” (Calle San Antonio Abad), running from the University of El Salvador to 75th Avenue North, for Major Roberto D'Aubuisson, the name of the person who has been identified as the murderer of Archbishop Romero by the Truth Commission appointed by the United Nations and by most of the Salvadoran people, as well as by key witnesses who participated in the execution of the murder of our Pastor and Martyr, such as the statements of former Army Captain Alvaro Saravia, published on March 22, 2010 by a digital newspaper under the title, “How we killed Archbishop Romero.” The US Ambassador to El Salvador at the time, Robert White, has called Mr. D'Aubuisson a “Pathological Murderer.”
We are offended by this news but not surprised, because we know that those who applauded the brutal murder of Archbishop Romero continue to possess hearts of stone and continue to worship their eternal idols: power and money.
Our indignation is also based on the thinking of our Archbishop, Monsignor José Luis Escobar, who on Sunday November 30, in an interview with reporters, clearly expressed his opinion in opposition to the name change.
It seems a rather crude decision because it is taken just as, according to reports from representatives of the Catholic Church, we are getting closer to an eventual beatification and subsequent canonization of Archbishop Romero, recognizing in him a martyr's death and a life that adhered to the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth and to the Magisterium of the Church.
Just as we approach the time when the Church will officially tell us what the populace has already recognized for years, that this great Pastor, Prophet and Martyr is an example to follow in our Christian lives, these individuals come forward who want to exalt the figure of his murderer. This can only come from a diabolical urge. Although, as Christians, we hope that the Lord has mercy.
With this arrogant attitude that characterizes them, they ignore the recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which in its ruling on April 13, 2000 asks the Salvadoran government to avoid making tributes to the murderers and that it rather exalt the figure of the Archbishop.
Monseñor [Romero] was killed because of his fidelity to the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Church.
We reject this decision of Mayor Quijano, his Municipal Council and others behind them. At the same time we call God's people and all people of good will to express, peacefully, their repudiation of the decision of said Council.

I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation” (Luke 11:49-50)

San Salvador, December 4, 2014

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