Romero

"Romero" is one of my favorite movies, though it pains me so much to watch it. I can identify with the Archbishop as he's portrayed in the movie: scholarly, gentle, slightly awkward, and caring. Also, uncertain how to confront injustice. As should be expected, when I last watched the movie I contemplated quitting my job again and moving to Palestine. We'll see. In the meantime, I can contemplate my similarities with the Archbishop.

I could feel Romero's genuine pain and genuine uncertainty in the face of egregious injustice. I know the anger and the feeling of powerlessness that he expresses at some points. In one scene, the Archbishop is taken to jail along with guerrillas who had taken over a church and demanded a new government. One officer had promised the guerrillas safe passage if they laid down their arms, but the promises of the military are seldom kept.

As he sits in a cell, angry and disappointed that people cannot be trusted, he hears another Father, who had helped the guerrillas, being tortured. The Archbishop screams for it to stop. He screams and screams through the bars, but nothing happens. Father O. continues to scream from the torture. Disheartened and powerless, the Archbishop retreats into the back of his cell and cowers. I know that feeling.

Later in the movie, the Archbishop walks past the grave of Father Grande, a companion who was murdered for standing against the government. He struggles viscerally with the call he feels to stand with the people, but he seems to know that he will be killed for doing so. My struggle isn't nearly so dire, but I know something of the nature of that, too.


God, help us to stand when we need to. Give us the strength to love all of humanity, and to fight the powers that bind us.