El Salvador to mark anniversary of martyred Archbishop Romero

With 56 favorable votes out of 84 deputies who make up the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, a legislative decree declaring March 24 as the Day of Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez has been approved.

The initiative was filed February 23, 2010, as part of the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the Commission was headed by Father Ricardo Urioste of the Romero Foundation, which is composed of different social and religious organizations in the country. Archbishop Romero was assassinated March 24, 1980 by death squads, many of whose members are now part of the main opposition party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance, ARENA.

The approval of the Day dedicated to Archbishop Romero was published as part of the celebration for the Day of Prayer and the International Women's Day held March 5 in a chapel in the capital, and generated mixed reactions: the Church as the faithful applauded the initiative with great joy, while the media and right-wing parties have just mentioned the news.
The main leader of the new party in formation, the "Grand National Alliance (GANA), Guillermo Gallegos, formerly member of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), said he voted in favor of the decree, recognizing that the pastoral life and work of the Archbishop has been recognized worldwide and has left its mark. He also mentioned the need to bring a close to this tragic event with reconciliation.

For the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Romero, a series of activities have been organized at local and national level, including prayer vigils, meetings, marches, and Holy Masses. A Mass on March 20 will be presided by the Cardinal Archbishop of Guatemala City, Rodolfo Quezada Toruño, and the Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador. Another Mass, on March 24, will be presided over by Bishop Samuel Ruiz, Bishop Emeritus of San Cristobal de las Casas (Chiapas, Mexico).

Archbishop Romero is the only other Catholic bishop, besides Thomas Beckett of England, to have been murdered while while at his altar. St. Thomas Beckett was murdered on December 29, 1170 in Canterbury.