Thirty-seven years after Archbishop Romero was killed while celebrating Mass in a small chapel, the case to identify his murderer was reopened three days ago in El Salvador. This reopening seeks to identify those who ordered the murder of the Archbishop as well as those who executed the order.
The case was closed in 1993 after the Salvadorean Congress extended a broad, absolute and unconditional amnesty to all those who committed crimes linked to the country’s civil war between 1980 and 1992. The passage of this amnesty meant that whoever executed Blessed Romero, as well as thousands of other victims, would not be punished.
The country’s Truth Commission, established to report on human rights violations which occurred during the war, identified Major Roberto d’Aubuisson, already deceased, as the intellectual author of the murder. This however has not been proven in court. D’Aubuisson founded the country’s right wing party which enjoyed wide US support throughout the 1980s in its fight against communism.
The reopening of the case brings hope that the judicial system will find the truth in Romero’s case. It is hard to believe that an Archbishop was killed in broad daylight and thirty-seven years later nobody has been held accountable.
Two religious sisters tend to Archbishop Romero immediately after being shot
Pictures are mine, all rights reserved. 2015.
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