#OTD #OscarRomero Arbishop of #SanSalvador was celebrating Mass in chapel of the hospital where he lived. a warm day. From the altar, he saw an assassin line him up thru the open door. Romero didn't flinch to protect others. His clothing shows the sweat 1/ bit.ly/39c7oA5
In 2018, I was fortunate to travel with @RomeroTrust on pilgrimage to beautiful #ElSalvador to explore #Romero's life & legacy. Armed guards outside most shops reminded us of the gang scourge. But the beauty & dignity of those we met was unforgettable. 2/ bit.ly/39aWJWc
Those who knew Romero: the sister of a murdered priest, Fr Octavio Ortiz, who lost 5 brothers in the war; the young lawyer who worked with Romero on cases of the disappeared. In every village, Romero's memory is revered as the priest who stood with them in crisis & death. 3/ 
Romero was just one of 75,000+ who died 1979-1992. Some 20k now remembered with him on this Memorial Wall which attracts huge devotion from families. The lawyer & many others urged us to #tellourstory on our return. The young we met understood Romero too, which gave me hope. 4/
Most poignant & aweful place of many was #ElMozote, scene of a bestial massacre in 1981. 1000 were raped & killed. 143 child remains were found in 1992 under the burnt-out sacristy. Our guide was a survivor who hid from the US-trained Atlacatl battalion.5/ nyti.ms/2wyPf20
The part played by Argentinian @eaafoficial in recovering the truth underlines the power & importance of international friendship & solidarity. Bishop John Rawsthorne was on our pilgrimage, and later wrote this homily. 6/
Since returning, I've stayed with those we met & what we saw. So today, the day of Romero's murder is a chance 2 remember both the suffering that was compounded by US$1m poured into the armed forces, & helped create the gangs of today, & to make fiesta! 7/ bit.ly/33KFDgB
@threadreaderapp unroll please
