Latin America through the Eyes of Oscar Romero: Prayer Service

The Anniversary of the Assassination of Oscar Romero is March 24. This prayer service uses quotes by the late Archbishop Oscar Romero to pray for justice in situations throughout Latin America today.
In the 1970’s and early 80’s in El Salvador, a violent and oppressive military government. kidnapped and
executed dissenters. When Oscar Romero became Archbishop of San Salvador on Feb. 22, 1977, he
was expected to remain quiet about the situation. Instead, he became an outspoken critic of violence and
injustice. Our faith, Romero said, must cause us to speak out; we cannot remain in silence.

Today, we are still inspired by the words of Archbishop Romero and we pray that we might listen to his
words carefully and follow his example in challenging injustice in our world, especially in the Latin American
region he loved.

Reader 1

“The great need today
is for Christians who are active and critical,
who don’t accept situations without analyzing them
inwardly and deeply.
We no longer want masses of people
like those who have been trifled for so long.
We want persons like fruitful fig trees,
who can say yes to justice and no to injustice
and can make use of the precious gift of life,
regardless of their circumstances.”
Mar. 9, 1980

Reader 2

Millions of children live as “street kids” in the urban slums of Latin American cities. Others live with their
families but become child laborers as garbage pickers, sweatshop workers, and miners, or are sent to
beg on urban streets for money to support their families.

All:

As people of faith, we are called to protect the most vulnerable in our society, especially children. We
pray that we would be motivated to promote policies that lessen poverty and enhance the quality of life
for all people, especially children. With the faith of Oscar Romero, let us lovingly stand for justice and
truth.

Reader 2

Today we remember the armed conflict and violence in Colombia, fueled by drug production and financed
by trade. Human rights are routinely violated; aerial fumigation daily sickens coca farmers, their
animals and families; guerilla warfare makes daily living difficult for many; and families have been forced
to migrate to cities, where they often encounter unemployment and poverty. The United States is the
largest market for the Colombian drugs and the largest provider of military aid to the government of
Colombia.

All:

We pray for an end to the violence in Colombia and for all of the innocent victims of that conflict. We
pray for our leaders to pursue policy changes that confront root problems. With the faith of Oscar
Romero, let us lovingly stand for justice and truth.

Reader 2:

Since 1990, a Maryknoll priest has led the movement to close the School of the Americas, a U.S.
Army training school that been found to teach questionable tactics to its students, soldiers from Latin
America. Several of its graduates have become notorious human rights abusers in their home countries.

All:

We pray for those working to challenge policies at the School of the Americas that promote violence
and human rights abuses in Latin America. We pray to transform injustice. With the faith of Oscar
Romero, let us lovingly stand for justice and truth.

Reader 1

“I will not tire of declaring that if we really want and effective end to violence we must remove the
violence that lies at the root of all violence:
structural violence
social injustice
exclusion of citizens from the management of the country
repression.
All this is what constitutes the primal cause, from which the rest flows naturally.”
Sept. 23, 1979

Reader 2

Every day, hundreds of people try to enter the U.S. illegally at the Mexican border. More than 2000
border deaths have been reported in the last 5 years. Many people are so desperate to immigrate out
of poverty that they hire “coyotes” to smuggle themselves or their children across the border.

All:

Help us, Lord, to work for more just border policies, and for our country to aid Latin American
governments with the resources needed to make structural changes that deal with poverty and
inequality, the true causes of illegal immigration. With the faith of Oscar Romero, let us lovingly stand
for justice and truth.

Reader 2

The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is moving closer to a vote in the U.S.
Congress. Many advocates for the poor are concerned that small Central American farmers will find
it impossible to compete with the wealthy north if this agreement is adopted.

All:

We pray that we might always stand on the side of the poor to ensure that all trade agreements are
about fair trade, not free trade. With the faith of Oscar Romero, let us lovingly stand for justice and
truth.

Reader 2:

In the 1990’s, most of Latin America went along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plans
for economic liberalization, deregulation and privatization. The liberalization policies led to the skyrocketing
of income inequality, with the richest one-tenth in Latin America now earning 48 percent of
total income, while the poorest tenth earn only 1.6 percent. Many Latin American countries also
became burdened by debt and it is difficult for them to devote adequate money to the health care,
social security, and the education systems, making poverty intergenerational.

All:

Oscar Romero extended a loving hand to those who caused injustice, saying “Be converted!” We pray
that we might reach out to the world financial institutions and challenge policies that promote injustice,
such as the indiscriminate application of liberalization. With the faith of Oscar Romero, let us lovingly
stand for justice and truth.

Reader 1:

“God’s reign is already present on our earth in mystery.
When the Lord comes, it will be brought to perfection.
That is the hope of Christians.
We know that every effort to better society,
especially when injustice and sin are so ingrained,
is an effort that God blesses,
that God wants,
that God demands of us.
March 24, 1980

Reader 2:

Archbishop Oscar Romero spoke these last words on March 24, 1980, minutes before being suddenly
assasinated while concluding a homily during a mass in a San Salvadoran hospital. Today, we
pray that we can do more than honor Romero’s words and courage. We pray for God’s spirit to help
us imitate him in his conviction to stand against injustice.
All:
Reader 1:
Reader 2: