Recording of Courageous Opposition to Totalitarianism in Latin America

Wednesday 21^st May, 2025

The life and example of Archbishop Oscar Romero

For those who missed any of the earlier sessions, we encourage you to listen to these recordings:

1. Introductory presentation exploring similarities between the rise of Adolf Hitler during Nazism and the rise of Donald Trump under the current U.S. administration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2UpWsoccHg.
2. The rise and Detrimental Development of Nazism in Germany in which we seethe Catholic and Lutheran Churches playing a significant role in promoting Hitler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vPZ0ytBHUc
3. Courageous Opposition to Nazism which examined the lives and ministry of Fr Max Metzger and Sr Restituta Kafka along with mentions of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Franz Jägerstätter, and Fr Maximilian Kolbe: https://youtu.be/VpYmG4BaEU4.

And now, today’s presentation:

Courageous Opposition to Totalitarianism in Latin America which examined the life of St. Oscar Romero and looked at the crises currently happening there now: https://youtu.be/e3sSWZZ4kTk.

This presentation focused on the life and legacy of Saint Oscar Romero, a Catholic bishop and martyr who advocated for social justice in El Salvador. Next a presentation followed on current human rights issues in Latin America.

Discussions covered Romero’s transformation from a conservative bishop to a vocal advocate for the poor, his assassination, and his enduring impact as a symbol of faith and resistance against tyranny. The meeting addressed the deteriorating human rights situation in various Latin American countries, emphasizing the need for continued support for human rights defenders and the importance of upholding democratic values in the face of growing authoritarianism.

Next Steps

• All participants to pray for Latin America and the challenges it faces.
• All participants to consider ways they can support human rights defenders in Latin America.
• All participants to speak out against injustice and human rights abuses, following Oscar Romero’s example.
• Barry, one of the participants, to continue advocating for social justice issues within his parish, despite resistance.
• All participants to raise awareness about the current human rights crisis in Latin America within their communities.
• All participants to support and follow Pope Francis’s leadership on social justice issues and now Pope Leo XIV’s focus on the importance of our Christian calling to stand up and speak out for those suffering from injustices and persecutions.
• All participants to learn more about and draw inspiration from American martyrs who gave their lives for justice in Latin America.

Saint Oscar Romero: A Martyr’s Legacy

Frank Callus introduced the webinar’s focus on Latin America, particularly the life and legacy of Saint Oscar Romero, a Catholic bishop and martyr who stood against oppression and injustice in El Salvador.

Julian Filochowski, co-chair of the Romero Trust, shared his personal experiences and insights into Romero’s life, highlighting his humble nature, commitment to social justice, and unwavering faith. He described Romero’s transformation from a conservative bishop to a vocal advocate for the poor, his assassination in 1980, and his subsequent canonization as a martyr.

The discussion emphasized Romero’s prophetic witness, his integration of orthodoxy and orthopraxis, and his enduring legacy as a symbol of faith and resistance against tyranny.

Archbishop Romero’s Legacy and Impact

Julian presented a comprehensive overview of Archbishop Oscar Romero’s life and legacy, highlighting his unwavering commitment to justice and peace in El Salvador despite facing opposition from both the right and left. He clarified Romero’s stance on the military junta and guerrilla organizations, explaining his support for reform while opposing violence.

Julian also discussed Romero’s controversial but influential letter to President Carter requesting a halt to military aid and touched on the role of Opus Dei in Romero’s life.

The session concluded with Frank introducing Paz Redondo, who provided an overview of the current challenges in Central America.

Human Rights Crisis in Latin America

Paz discussed the deteriorating human rights situation in Latin America, highlighting trends such as eroding governance, increased persecution of civil society, and attacks on environmental and land defenders. She noted that funding for humanitarian work in the region, such as USAID, has significantly decreased, affecting the ability of organizations to provide essential services.

Paz also shared specific examples from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, emphasizing the need for continued support for human rights defenders and the importance of upholding democratic values in the face of growing authoritarianism.

Latin America Social Justice Advocacy

The meeting focused on the situation in Latin America, highlighting the assassination of Juan Lopez and the ongoing struggle against environmental and social injustices. Participants discussed the role of the Catholic Church in advocating for social justice and human rights, with references to figures like Oscar Romero and current challenges faced by Pope Francis, and now his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV.

The group prayed the Oscar Romero prayer together, emphasizing the need for all of us to have the courage to speak out against injustice and support marginalized communities throughout the world.

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YOUR GIFT – IN ANY AMOUNT – IS PRICELESS

When you make a donation to support our cause, you join with others who are investing in restoring our Church to what Jesus intended. The dollars we receive are used to run our programs and to reach a broad spectrum of the People of God. We are focused on reaching out to the Faithful, reform activists, young adults as well as those who feel abandoned by the Church, to mention just a few. Your personal contributions in offering your suggestions and your donations are most appreciated.

Silence is complicity to injustice that is happening now. Let us have the courage like those highlighted in today’s online presentation.

On behalf of the CCRI strategy team,

Rene Reid, CCRI director