Be God’s Microphone – Lessons from the life of Saint Óscar Romero

by James Gallagher

Dear CMEP Community,

After years of unrest in the Middle East, many of us may feel dismayed, or even hopeless. From a Christian lens, witnessing the tragic ongoing humanitarian crises, the horrifying loss of life, armed conflicts, and heightened political tensions ignites a sense of empathy and sorrow for God’s suffering people. The horrific injustices also stir up a desire to bring Christ-like peace to our broken world; however, where do we begin? How can such massive issues be addressed? Today, I would like to provide an example for modern Christians seeking to make a positive difference in a world dominated by political oppression. The life and works of Saint Óscar Romero can serve as a wonderful blueprint for how Christians today can advocate for peace and justice.

After his birth in El Salvador in 1917, Romero grew up as a kind and shy child who enjoyed studying and learning carpentry. Later, at the age of 13, Romero felt a call from God to become a Catholic priest. He was ordained a priest at the age of 25 in Rome, and ultimately became the Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 1977. During this time, El Salvador was experiencing political tensions, severe poverty, and elitist control of power. The elites were pleased with Romero’s appointment because they believed that he would not oppose their rule due to his shy demeanor. To control the nation, the government elites used death squads to eliminate those who were deemed enemies of the regime. Civilians, and even priests, were regularly killed by the death squads. Tragically, Romero’s close friend, Father Rutilio Grande, was assassinated by a government death squad only weeks after Romero was appointed Archbishop. Grande was targeted because he advocated for the poor and vulnerable, which angered the political elites because they wanted to maintain their share of the nation’s riches.

The death of his friend profoundly impacted Romero, who soon became outspoken about the injustices facing his country. Romero began documenting injustices on his radio program, such as disappearances, murders, and torture carried out by the government. Romero became well known for his defense of the poor and vulnerable in society. He called for an end to government violence, along with the social and economic injustices facing impoverished Salvadorians. Romero also encouraged his listeners to be “God’s microphones,” calling Salvadorians to be messengers and prophets for God’s peace. Millions of Salvadorians heard Romero’s messages, and he became known as the “voice for the voiceless.” Romero believed that through political demonstration and organization, real change could be made, and that Christians have a moral duty to aid and defend the poor and vulnerable.

In 1980, Romero wrote a letter to American President Jimmy Carter, cautioning the United States that sending military aid to the Salvadorian regime would only increase the level of injustice in El Salvador. On the radio, Romero directly addressed the Salvadoran military to stop killing civilians, stating, “No soldier is obliged to obey an order that goes against the law of God.” The government saw Romero’s advocacy for the poor and his calls for peace as a threat to their power, and a gunman assassinated Romero as he celebrated Mass. While Romero’s life ended, the spirit of his advocacy has lived on in El Salvador and around the world. In honor of his devotion to protecting the poor and defending human rights, Óscar Romero was canonized as a Saint by Pope Francis in 2018.

Romero’s life, while heartbreakingly cut short, provides modern-day Christians with several examples of how to spark change. Through his courage to speak up against injustice, Romero calls us to also be “God’s microphones,” and to acknowledge that safeguarding peace by speaking out against unjust government acts is a Christian moral responsibility. While the radio may be slightly outdated, organizations like CMEP provide Christians with an outlet to be the “voice for the voiceless.” As Christians, if our government is engaging in acts that violate human rights, we must speak out. Whether through protest, through contacting elected officials, or advocating for justice with CMEP, Christians today should take concrete action to stand up against evil, as Romero did during his lifetime. Even when justice seemed impossible, Romero never lost faith and continued to courageously advocate for peace and safety in his nation. We too, inspired by Romero’s fortitude, should remain hopeful in our advocacy efforts. Whether connected with CMEP’s mission, or in our own lives, let us remember St. Óscar Romero as an example of how to stand up against government oppression.

With God’s love,

James Gallagher