Catholic Activism

 Religion was a key motivator for the Catholic activists political opposition. Many justified these acts of defiance with reasoning taken from the bible. Priests like Grande and Romero, preached that God would reward them in the end if they sacrificed themselves for what they believed to be right. By publicly opposing the government and encouraging others to do the same, these activists would knowingly putting themselves in danger. These circumstances is what made their roles not just as activists, but as martyrs as well.

Catholics played a role of martyrdom and sacrifice throughout the history of El Salvador. The oppression of civilians and the increasing political injustices combined with the militarian government's suicide squads ignited Catholic activists to speak out passionately against the government. In 1977, Catholic priest, Rutilio Grande, was murdered less than a month after giving a speech comparing the Salvadoran government to the devil. This was the first murder of a priest in El Salvadoran history, which shifted the view on oppositional activism as being a symbol of martyrdom and sacrifice. 

Grande’s murder had an important impact on his close friend, Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero. The example set by Grande inspired Romero to reassess the way he thought about political opposition. Romero was murdered in 1980 and was one of the biggest upsets in El Salvadoran history. The speeches and masses given by Romero and other activists helped the people make sense of these killings by preaching to them that their suffering and sacrifice would be rewarded, giving them hope for a new and just society.