Vatican officials are debating whether or not to beatify Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero- a human rights activist who was slain in 1980 while celebrating mass. According to one Catholic-based news source, the main sticking point for Vatican authorities is if Romero can be considered as a martyr: During a February 18 conference with reporters in Rome, as he introduced new norms for diocesan investigations into candidates for beatification, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins was questioned about the progress of Archbishop Romero's cause. The cardinal replied that the key question is whether the Salvadoran prelate died for the Catholic faith.
If a killing is inspired by hatred for the faith, the victim can be classified as a martyr and qualified for beatification. But in the case of Archbishop Romero and his assassin, the motives could be mixed. "There can be political or social motives," Cardinal Saraiva observed. "If the motive is not clear it must be studied in depth."
As we mentioned last year, some members of El Salvador’s government backed sainthood for Romero though critics doubted their movies.
As Archbishop of San Salvador, Romero criticized the military-led government for its crackdown on suspected guerillas and leftist opponents. He also advocated for the welfare of the poor and his outspokenness led to his assassination.
Sources- International Herald Tribune, Catholic World News, The Latin Americanist, Wikipedia
Image- Catholic News Agency
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