Oscar Romero and Liberation Theology

Overview

• Oscar Romero: A significant bridge builder and thinker.
• Active church leader in Central America.
• Advocated for the poor and political reform.
• Linked to liberation theology.

Liberation Theology

• Emerged in the 1960s in South and Central America.
• Focus on aiding the poor not just charitably, but as a theological recognition.
• Views the poor as a location of God’s presence.
• Hermeneutical approach: Understanding God’s liberation as seen in the Book of Exodus.
• Emphasizes God as a liberator by essence.

Core Principles

• Balance between material and spiritual needs.
• Liberation theology is not revolution or Marxism, but an interpretive lens.
• Calls for cooperation with God in improving human conditions.

Oscar Romero's Journey

• Born in 1917 in El Salvador.
• Initially apolitical, became devoted to liberation principles as responsibilities increased.
• Assassinated during Mass in 1980, recognized as a martyr and saint.

Key Messages from Romero's Address

• Delivered to European academics in 1980s.
• Emphasized a theological focus in liberation, beyond material improvement.
• The poor are key to understanding Christian faith and the Church’s mission.
• Encouraged the Church and its leaders to be prepared for persecution.
• Highlighted the necessity of the Church's defense and proclamation of the gospel to the poor.

Theological Insights

• Acknowledges the poor’s world as a theological source.
• Liberation theology method: See, Judge, Act
  • See: Observing lived realities, especially of the poor.
  • Judge: Making moral and ethical decisions.
  • Act: Committing to actions based on judgments.

Conscientization

• Process of the poor gaining awareness of their circumstances.
• Necessary for making informed decisions and moving forward.

Balancing Political and Spiritual

• The Church should engage in politics but not be a political institution.
• Engagement driven by theological motivations.
• The Church’s mission is to support the poor’s struggle for liberation.

Praxis and Love

• Praxis: Action and practice beyond reflection.
• Encourages disruption of unjust systems.
• Emphasizes Christian love through justice and effective action.

Theological Concepts Defined

• Sin: Misuse of freedom rejecting ultimate goodness.
• Incarnation: God entering the world through Jesus.
• Redemption: Returning humanity to right relationship with God.

Hope in Liberation

• Affirmation of hope in God’s support for justice.
• Similarities with Martin Luther King Jr.'s view of God’s role in history.