"When the Church hears the cry of the oppressed, it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises."
- Archbishop Oscar Romero (Aug. 1978)
Robin Hood has been a timeless tale for hundreds of years, appearing most recently in a gritty version directed by Ridley Scott with Russell Crowe in the titular role. The timelessness of the tale stems from its one simple principle: steal from the rich and give to the poor.
This policy of economic redistribution was radical in the Middle Ages and is still dangerous in our own day. Robin Hood reminds us each century (and now each decade through film) that the poor and oppressed should have the same rights and privledges as those who have money and power. This swashbuckling tale brings to life for its listeners and viewers the teachings of Jesus including: "Blessed are you who are poor... who are now hungry.... who are weeping... but woe to you who are rich... who are filled now... who laugh now." (Lk. 6:20-25).
In Ridley Scott's version, Robin Longstride (Crowe) begins his rebellious streak by speaking truth to power - telling the English king, Richard the Lionhearted, to his face that the crusades are foolish endeavors which God would not condone, even though the war is being fought in his name. This gospel-inspired declaration compels the king to punish Robin for his stance; but akin to the Acts of the Apostles, Robin and his men escape from their shackles and leave the crusades.
But this is only the beginning of Robin's journey. Despite their disagreement, Robin honors the king after Richard's death by taking his crown back to England - and making his way to Nottingham to return the sword of a fallen knight to that soldier's family.
What Robin sees in England, however, is oppression of the poor, an excess of taxation from the crown, and the corruption of the rich and powerful - so he begins to act, not just for himself but on behalf of those who are beaten down by medieval life.
These actions call to mind others who have stood for the poor and oppressed against injustice and tyranny over the centuries. One individual who comes to mind is Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero. Made the archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, Romero unexpectedly advocated a new paradigm - to take power away from the corrupt government of El Salvador and give it back to the people. He spoke out for human rights, an end to violence, and excessive poverty that had crippled the country.
"When the Church hears the cry of the oppressed," declared Romero in August 1978, "it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises." Like Robin Hood, he encouraged and gave hope to the poor - to stand up for their rights, despite persecution and even death.
Also like Robin, Oscar Romero was made an outlaw for his gospel beliefs - ignored by the United States, who stood idly by while people died; shunned by some leaders within his own Catholic Church, who did not want to upset the social order; and targeted by the government of El Salvador - who eventually assassinated him in March 1980.
Living the gospel is never easy - it will require taking up the cross and suffering for what is right. It might mean persecution from power and even opposition from those closest to us. Like Robin Hood, it might even make us an outlaw. But to stand for justice and speak out against corruption, oppression, and violence - and possibly suffer for those beliefs - is to walk in the company of people like Archbishop Romero, as well as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, the Apostles and Martyrs, and of course, Jesus of Nazareth. But remember, that's not bad company to keep.
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2 comments:
This year being the 30th Anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, makes SP’s comment on the social justice theme of Robin Hood especially significant! And proffering Archbishop Romero as a justice role model is appropriate in this context. However, knowing SP doesn't want to be accused of being a revisionist historian, the analysis of officialdom's response to Romero's gospel beliefs could be more clear and forceful. U.S. Latin American foreign policy [under both the Carter & Reagan administrations, to be non-partisan] did more than "ignore" and stand "idly by while people died." From the late 70’s on, U.S. “aid”—read as military funding—reached a million dollars a day in the effort to prop up the Salvadoran military regime in its efforts to defeat what the U.S., in its usual lionization of any faction opposing its foreign policy, labeled as “leftist guerillas.” Even the “human rights president,” Carter, ignored Romero’s letter to him just a month before his assassination/martyrdom under the U.S. Army School of the Americas-trained commander of the “death squad,” Roberto D'Aubisson, founder of the ARENA party. In his letter to Carter, Romero, citing his obligation as a Salvadoran and archbishop to see to it that ”faith and justice reign,” called on President Carter to “prohibit all military assistance. . . and guarantee your government will not intervene . . .to influence the direction of the destiny of the the Salvadoran people.” To the credit of the ever-ingenious comments of SP, it is correctly noted Romero was “shunned by some leaders within his own Catholic Church, who did not want to upset the social order.” One can only imagine the sad disappointment of Romero, whose every effort at dialogue with his government about the slaughter of his priests and people had been rebuffed, at his being told by John Paul II in May, 1979, “You, Señor Arzobispo, should make efforts to have a better relationship with your country’s government. . .” This anniversary year of the Martyrdom of Archbishop Romero, coinciding as it does with the U.S. midterm elections, raises a clarion call to all people of good will to stop the negative and personal petty bickering and get working on issues needing our practical dedication to real justice--domestic and foreign. Paul VI said so well, "If you want peace, work for justice!"
This year being the 30th Anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, makes SP’s comment on the social justice theme of Robin Hood especially significant! And proffering Archbishop Romero as a justice role model is appropriate in this context. However, knowing SP doesn't want to be accused of being a revisionist historian, the analysis of officialdom's response to Romero's gospel beliefs could be more clear and forceful. U.S. Latin American foreign policy [under both the Carter & Reagan administrations, to be non-partisan] did more than "ignore" and stand "idly by while people died." From the late 70’s on, U.S. “aid”—read as military funding—reached a million dollars a day in the effort to prop up the Salvadoran military regime in its efforts to defeat what the U.S., in its usual lionization of any faction opposing its foreign policy, labeled as “leftist guerillas.” Even the “human rights president,” Carter, ignored Romero’s letter to him just a month before his assassination/martyrdom under the U.S. Army School of the Americas-trained commander of the “death squad,” Roberto D'Aubisson, founder of the ARENA party. In his letter to Carter, Romero, citing his obligation as a Salvadoran and archbishop to see to it that ”faith and justice reign,” called on President Carter to “prohibit all military assistance. . . and guarantee your government will not intervene . . .to influence the direction of the destiny of the the Salvadoran people.” To the credit of the ever-ingenious comments of SP, it is correctly noted Romero was “shunned by some leaders within his own Catholic Church, who did not want to upset the social order.” One can only imagine the sad disappointment of Romero, whose every effort at dialogue with his government about the slaughter of his priests and people had been rebuffed, at his being told by John Paul II in May, 1979, “You, Señor Arzobispo, should make efforts to have a better relationship with your country’s government. . .” This anniversary year of the Martyrdom of Archbishop Romero, coinciding as it does with the U.S. midterm elections, raises a clarion call to all people of good will to stop the negative and personal petty bickering and get working on issues needing our practical dedication to real justice--domestic and foreign. Paul VI said so well, "If you want peace, work for justice!"
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