Word: romero
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...almost in a state of shock. Some stayed in their homes for fear of being caught in another round of the bloodletting between right and left extremists that has already claimed more than 700 victims this year. Thousands of others thronged to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where Romero's body lay in state, and joined a silent procession behind the cortege as it was taken to the Metropolitan Cathedral. "He was our father and protector," explained one grief-stricken woman carrying a small bouquet of yellow flowers. Said a middle-aged salesman: "The people will never forget...
Originally regarded as a conservative in his views, Romero had spoken out more and more boldly against the repressiveness of the country's rulers since his appointment as archbishop in 1977. He bitterly assailed Dictator Carlos Humberto Romero (no relation) and the notorious activities of the National Police and ORDEN, the brutalizing paramilitary arm of Romero's and other regimes. The archbishop had ample provocation. No fewer than seven priests have been murdered in the past three years by pro-government forces, and Catholic activists were frequently among those subjected to beatings and torture...
...When Romero was overthrown last fall, the archbishop initially supported the military-civilian junta that followed him. But he rapidly became disillusioned; last month he refused to support the junta's new agrarian and banking reforms because he believed they were merely a cover-up for continued repression. He also wrote to President Carter, imploring him not to send proposed U.S. military aid of, $5.7 million to the junta. "We are fed up with weapons and bullets," he explained. He urged the U.S. instead to "channel the aid to feed thousands of our people." The archbishop also...
...right-wing press regularly vilified Romero for his efforts. In February, 72 sticks of dynamite were discovered in the cathedral moments before he was to celebrate Mass. Last month a right-wing group blew up the Catholic University radio transmitter that carried the archbishop's sermons throughout the country. Undeterred, Romero recorded his homilies on cassette tapes and distributed them to parish priests. "If the defense of human rights is subversive," he often said, "then I am subversive...
...lives of 23 persons in a single day, the archbishop's death did not touch off the uncontrolled conflict that was initially feared. But with tens of thousands expected to attend the funeral, the risk of widespread violence was obviously high, and appeals for calm went out to Romero's supporters. Said Juan Chacon, leader of the Popular Revolutionary Bloc: "The best homage we can pay to Archbishop Romero is neither wreaths nor tears but to act with tremendous serenity...