Mixed Messages

On the one hand....

Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause has been under study at the Vatican for several years. Sources have said the Vatican is satisfied that the archbishop's writings, homilies and speeches were free of doctrinal error, but a remaining question is whether it was the archbishop's faith or his politics that led to his assassination.

And on the other...

When the pope, cardinals or bishops publicly comment on issues being debated by legislators they are not interfering in politics, but exercising their obligation as pastors and their rights as citizens... "That which the secularists call interference the church calls 'the right to speak about the moral problems that today trouble the consciences of all human beings, particularly legislators and jurists,'" the editorial said, quoting Pope Benedict XVI.

Romero spoke out about injustice, and that inevitably led him into politics. When leaders speak out in public, they become part of the political debate. And that's a good thing - they have a right and a duty to do so. It doesn't seem right, though, to encourage our bishops to speak out and as a result become part of the public political debate, only to hold it against them when they are gone. I wonder if that sort of mixed message is what keeps some bishops rather silent, when they are called to be prophetic?

Comments

[kat]

In Romero's case I don't think that his faith and his 'politics' can be seperated easily if at all. Romero's faith was a faith of action and justice and he had to speak out in a very public forum aginst the injustice... the government. So in reality it was his faith that got him killed, any political ramifications were secondary.

[Talmida]

Maybe it's the cynic in me? It seems as if Rome is all in favour of getting involved in politics if the issue is same-sex marriage, abortion, stem-cell research -- the so-called life issues.

But of course, the countries in which these are issues are wealthy and fairly stable, politically.

Does Rome not want to offend poor/politically unstable governments out of self-interest?

I don't really know enough about the history of the Church to judge, but those are the questions that leap to my mind.

[Paul Martin]

I see that as a necessary connection too - religion and social justice. The general tenor of Jesus's teachings, and for that matter Buddha's (I've noticed talk in the blogosphere among Buddhists about how to get more involved in social justice issues), is a love/compassion that naturally translates into taking positions on such issues.

[crystal]

Steve, this is an interesting post, given the recent CDF ruling on the work of Joh Sobrino SJ, an influence on Fr. Romero.

[Liam]

This is a frustrating subject. It's funny, I am much more conservative about canonization than the Vatican is now. It seems that under JP II they were canonizing people right and left. But when it comes to a man like Oscar Romero that seems obviously to me to be a modern martyr, suddenly the process slows down.

[Lily]

In his more than 25 years on the Seat, we might wonder if JP II, a deeply contemplative priest who consecrated his every breath and action, including his Pontificate, into Mary's keeping, and who was a deeply learned man surrounded by deeply learned men.. may have presented unto the Holy Spirit each and every cause that has been seriously put forward, and asked Him if it was the right time..(or perhaps whether it was a cause at all, for just as some insist they have a call or are a prophet, some do not, and aren't).

AB Romero was shot while offering Mass, which he was ordered by criminals not to do. He did not labor solely for social justice, which is only one aspect of the Church, and his desire was not to confront politics. As Archbishop he knew that he was entrusted with the fullness of the Truth, and he embraced it: He, a good shepherd, and one that surprised his brother bishops greatly, simply put Christ and Christ's people, first, under pain of death.

To me, that says it all. Utter martyrdom. Perhaps it said it all to JP II, also, and perhaps also to PapaRatzi; but perhaps the Holy Spirit has said, "Not yet." Or perhaps even, "No." The Lord's saints are not sainted by our wanting it.

But does that take away from Romero's example to us of living the faith heroically? No.

[Steve Bogner]

Kat - I agree; I think prophetic faith like Romero's will inevitably become political. We're all called to that same prophetic faith - a realization that makes me a bit uncomfortable...

Talmida - Church history is full of encounters with governments, and the church used to be entwined with the governments of various countries so maybe there is some basis for the church not wanting to offend certain governments. That still doesn't reconcile with the requirement for bishops (and all of us, really) to speak out for justice, human dignity, etc - even when it is not the popular position.

Paul - Exactly, it's love that drives compassion and justice. I suppose it's fear and selfishness that works against it...

Crystal - Yes I see the parallels - thanks for mentioning the connection. Maybe it's a vast right-wing conspiracy ;)

Hi Liam - Yes I agree; it seems to me that the canonization process is probably a bit too political.

Hi Lily - Well, that could be true (regarding the canonizations). Still, I see political overtones in what I labeled here in this post as a 'mixed message'. I'll admit I could be wrong, and that I am *generally* skeptical of church leadership - from the bishops on up.

[James]

Many Bishops give the impression of being chosen because they're "a safe pair of hands." I believe Romero was once similarly assessed? Anyway, such people don't often shine out as prophets or martyrs. Only very occasionally.

How about Archbishop N'cube in Zimbabwe? Proclaiming the signs of the times, and in the Romero tradition, in the Martin Luther King tradition, in the Janani Luwum tradition. All of whom were following One Man whose death was expedient for the people's good. They heard and followed God, not men. And we?

[Steve Bogner]

James - Yes, Romero had a sort of awakening after he was appointed archbishop. I haven't read much about Ncube, but what I have read impresses me - thanks for mentioning him.

[Jeff]

Hi Steve,

You're probably well aware with where I stand on Oscar Romero and Jon Sobrino. What I found to be very interesting today, however, was a list of articles by John Allen at NCR about how effective the Catholic Charismatic Renewal seems to be as a counterweight to Pentecostalism in Latin America. More effective than anything else, at least. I also thought it was interesting how Joseph Fessio was removed at Ave Maria, where the Charismatic movment seems to be strong. Is Charismatic Renewal going to be the trend over both Traditionalism and Liberation Theology?