That all might be free

As South Africa prepares for Human Rights Day, March 21, it is fitting that our focus this week should fall on two Catholic archbishops whose episcopates have been marked by a struggle for justice. One gave his life for this struggle, the other speaks to us this week in these pages.

On March 24 the Church will mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of Archbishop scar Romero of San Salvador, who was gunned down in a chapel during the celebration of the Eucharist.

Ironically, El Salvador’s genocidal military junta initially welcomed the appointment of Archbishop Romero to head the archdiocese of San Salvador. As a moderate conservative, he was seen as a safe bet not to rock the boat.

His new ministry, however, raised his consciousness to such a level that he could not tolerate the wickedness of the junta any longer. Archbishop Romero became increasingly outspoken a tendency not always welcome even within some offices in the Roman curia and became the voice for the voiceless. For his prophetic witness, he paid with his life.

Many pray that one day this martyr will be rewarded with the sainthood he so richly merits.

Two decades on and in a different continent, another archbishop is giving a voice to the voiceless. The self-effacing Archbishop Pius Ncube tells us this week that he never planned to become politically active, and that he would much rather have the freedom to concentrate on crucial issues such as Aids and evangelisation.

Like scar Romero (and, closer to home, Denis Hurley) before him, Archbishop Ncube has been confronted with a deeply unjust regime. Like them he is exercising the Church’s preferential option for the poor and the marginalised.

Archbishops Romero, Hurley and Ncube have been among the many Church leaders who have used the prerogatives of their office to advance the perpetual endeavour for human rights. As prelates, they have set a public example, inspiring many in the process.

At the same time, there are many anonynmous foot-soldiers in the war against tyranny who have sacrificed much, often their own lives, so that systems of injustice may be overcome. As South Africans we know this very well.

The struggle for human rights takes place in many arenas: in big, popular uprisings or in small battles for justice even though these may be seen as insignificant episodes.

Sometimes we may unwittingly offend against human rights ourselves, for example when we underpay, mistreat or unjustly dismiss an employee or domestic worker, or deprive a family of its livelihood because of theft or fraud.

Indeed, human rights can be broken within the family. Excessive physical punishment of a child some would even say any form of corporal punishment is a human rights violation. So is domestic abuse.

As the Church prepares for Good Friday, we are acutely aware of the most notorious human rights violation of all: the torture and cruel execution of Jesus Christ. We also know that the sorrow and humiliation of the day humanity killed our Lord is followed by the hope brought by his resurrection.

An integral requisite of this acceptance involves our willingness to submit to the 11th commandment. And this love is enshrined in what we call human rights.

This week we highlight two men who have given expression to human rights. May they serve to inspire us.