EL SALVADOR AND CENTRAL AMERICA: GENERAL BACKGROUND, U.S. INVOLVEMENT, CHURCH OF THE POOR

History, Geography, Politics

Kevin Murray and Tom Barry. Inside El Salvador. Albuquerque, NM: Interhemispheric Relations, 1995. Probably the best current introduction to the country.

Larry Towell. El Salvador. New York: Center for Documentary Studies in Association with
W.W. Norton and Co., 1997.
(Stacks F1488.3.T68 1997)

*Robert Armstrong and Janet Shenk. El Salvador Walter LaFeber. Inevitable Revolutions: The United States in Central America. 2nd edn., rev. and expanded. New York: W.W. Norton, 1993.
(Stacks F1436.8.U6L33 1993)

Raymond Bonner. Weakness and Deceit. New York: Times Books, 1984. U.S policy in El Salvador.

Mark Danner. The Massacre at El Mozote. New York: Random House/Vintage, 1994. Penetrating account of the war and the U.S. through the lens of the El Mozote massacre.
(Stacks F1488.3D36 1994)

Thomas Sheehan. "Friendly Fascism: Business as Usual in America's Backyard," in Fascism's Return: Scandal, Revision, and Ideology Since 1980. Richard J. Golson, ed. (Lincoln, Nebraska, and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1998), pp. 260-300. Perhaps the most trenchant account available of U.S. complicity in state terror in El Salvador.

William Leogrande. Our Own Backyard. The United States in Central America, 1977-1992. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of No. Carolina Press, 1998.
(Stacks F1436.8.U6L453 1998)

Tommie Sue Montgomery. Revolution in El Salvador: from civil strive to civil peace. 2 ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1995.

Benjamin C. Schwartz. American Counterinsurgency Doctrine and El Salvador: The Frustrations of Reform and the Illusions of Nation Building. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation, 1991.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. School of Assassins: The Case for Closing the School of the Americas and for Fundamentally Changing U.S. Foreign Policy. Orbis, 1997.

Faith under Fire

Anna L. Peterson. Martyrdom and the Politics of Religion: Progressive Catholicism in El Salvador's Civil War. Binghampton: SUNY Press, 1997.
( Stacks BX 1446.2.P47 1997)

Jeffrey, SJ. The Church, Dictatorships, and Democracy in Latin America. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1998.
(Stacks F1414.2.K5313 1998)

Scott Wright. Promised Land: Death and Life in El Salvador. Orbis, 1994. Stories of hope and tragedy among the poor during the war in El Salvador.

Scott Wright et al., eds. El Salvador: A Spring whose Waters Never Run Dry. Washington: EPICA, 1990.

Ann Butwell, et al., eds., The Globalization of Hope: Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean in the New Millenium. EPICA's 30th Anniversary Anthology: Vol. I (on the social reality of the region). Washington: EPICA, 1998.

Ann Butwell, et al., eds., We Make the Road by Walking: Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean in the New Millenium. EPICA's 30th Anniversary Anthology: Vol. II (on religious reality in the region). Washington: EPICA, 1998.

Donna Whitson Brett and Edward T. Brett. Murdered in Central America: The Stories of Eleven U.S. Missionaries. Orbis, 1988.
(Stacks BU 2842.B73 1988)

María López Vigil. Don Lito of El Salvador. Orbis, 1990. Out of print. Outstanding testimony concerning Christian base communities and the church of the poor.

María López Vigil. Death and Life in Morazán: A Priest's Testimony from a War Zone in El Salvador. Washington: EPICA, 1989.

Pablo Galdámez. Faith of a People: The Life of a Basic Christian Community in El Salvador, 1970-1980. Orbis, 1986. In the same spirit.

Renny Golden. The Hour of the Poor, The Hour of Women: Salvadoran Women Speak. New York: Crossroad, 1992. Women and the church of the poor in El Salvador.

Renny Golden, The Hour of the Furnaces (Minneapolis: Mid-List Press, 2000). A social history/poetry tribute to martyrs and peasants during the war years in Central America, especially El Salvador. (Mid-List toll free number: 1-888-543-1138.)

Pamela Hussey. Free from Fear: Women in El Salvador's Church. London: CIIR, 1989.

Ricardo Falla. The Story of a Great Love. Washington: EPICA, 1998. A Jesuit priest tells of his life among the communities in resistence during the war in Guatemala.

Susan Classen. Vultures and Butterflies: Living the Contradictions. Scottdale, Pa./Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, 1992.

Daniel Santiago. The Harvest of Justice: The Church of El Salvador Ten Years After Romero. New York: Paulist, 1993.

Phillip Berryman. The Religious Roots of Rebellion: Christians in Central American Revolutions. Orbis, 1984.
(Stacks BR 620.B47 1984)

Phillip Berryman. Stubborn Hope: Religion, Politics and Revolution in Central America. Orbis, 1994.
(Stacks BR 620.B48 1994)

J. Guadalupe Carney. To Be a Revolutionary. An Autobiography. (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984). Story of U.S. Jesuit missing in Honduras.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. War Against the Poor: Low-Intensity Conflict and Christian Faith. Orbis, 1989.

Film and video
School of Assassins, narrated by Susan Sarandon, 1995 Academy Award Nominee. Available from Maryknoll World Productions.

*"Massacre at El Mozote." 60 Minutes documentary, ca. 1993.

ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO

Oscar A. Romero. The Voice of the Voiceless: The Four Pastoral Letters and Other Statements, Introductions, commentaries and selection of texts by R. Cardenal, I. Martín-Baró and J. Sobrino. Orbis, 1985. This is the best introduction to Romero's homilies and writings in English.

Oscar A. Romero. Archbishop Oscar Romero: A Shepherd's Diary. Cincinnati/Montreal; Our Sunday Visitor/Novalis, 1993.
(Stacks BX4705.R669A3 1993)

James R. Brockman. Romero: A Life. Orbis, 1989. The most complete biography to date.
Jon Sobrino. Archbishop Romero: Memories and Reflections. Orbis, 1990.
(Stacks BX4705.R669 B75 1989)

Oscar Arnulfo Romero. The Church is All of You: Thoughts of Archbishop Oscar Romero. Compiled and trans. by James R. Brockman, S.J. Minneapolis, Minn.: Winston Press, 1984.
(Stacks BX2182.2.R64 1984)

Oscar Romero. The Violence of Love. Compiled and trans. by James R. Brockman, S.J. San Francisco and Toronto: Harper & Row and Whiteside, 1988; reprinted Farmington, Penn.: Plough Publ., 1998.
(Stacks BX2186.R594 1998)

María López Vigil. Oscar Romero: Memories in Mosaic. Washington, D.C.: EPICA, 2000. Stories about Romero from those who knew him.

Marie Dennis, Renny Golden and Scott Wright, Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings. Modern Spiritual Masters Series. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 2000.

Film
Romero. Starring Radl Julia. Vidmark Entertainment video. 105 minutes.
(ITC Stacks Video BX4705.R669 R6518 1989)

THE UCA MARTYRS

Historical Account and Analysis

Martha Doggett. A Death Foretold: The Jesuit Murders in El Salvador. Washington: Georgetown University Press, 1993. In-depth history of the UCA murder case.
(Stacks & Archives HV6535.S2D64 1993)

Teresa Whitfield. Paying the Price: Ignacio Ellacuría and the Murdered Jesuits in El Salvador. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1995. The story of Ellacuría and El Salvador through the lens of the UCA murders.
(Stacks F1488.3 W48 1985)

Joseph E. Mulligan, S.J. The Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador: Celebrating the Anniversaries. Baltimore: Fortkamp, 1994. Remembering the UCA martyrs in historical context. Graphic photos. [Fortkamp has moved from Baltimore.]

Ron Hansen. "Hearing the Cry of the Poor: Jesuit Priests, El Salvador, 1989," in an Bergman, ed., Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith. Orbis, 1998, pp. 33-55.

Dean Brackley. "Remembering the UCA Martyrs: Ten Years Later," Conversations, Fall 1999.

By and about the UCA martyrs

Jon Sobrino, Ignacio Ellacuría, et al. Companions of Jesus: The Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador. Orbis, 1990. Essays by and about the UCA martyrs.
(Stacks BX3712.5.S2 S63 1990)

Instituto de Estudios Centroamericanos and El Rescate. The Jesuit Assassinations: The Writings of Ellacuría, Martín-Baró and Segundo Montes, with a Chronology of the Investigation. Sheed &Ward, 1990.
(Stacks BX3712.5.S2 J47 1990)

Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martín-Baró and Segundo Montes. Toward a Society That Serves Its People: The Intellectual Contribution of El Salvador's Murdered Jesuits. John Hassett and Hugh Lacey, eds. Washington: Georgetown University Press, 1991. Essays by Ellacuría, Martín-Baró and Montes with thorough bibliography.

Ignacio Ellacuría. Freedom Made Flesh: The Mission of Christ and His Church. Orbis, 1976.

Ignacio Martín-Baró. Writings for a Liberation Psychology. Adrianne Aron and Shawn Corne, eds. Cambridge and London: Harvard University Press, 1994.

Juan Ramón Moreno. Gospel and Mission: Spirituality and the Poor. Manila: Cardinal Bea Institute, Ateneo de Manila University, 1995.

Kevin F. Burke, The Ground Beneath the Cross: The Theology of Ignacio Ellacuria (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, forthcoming, 2000).
(Stacks BX4705.E46 B87 2000)

The UCA

Charles J. Beirne, S.J. Jesuit Education and Social Change in El Salvador. Garland Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 5. New York and London: Garland Publishing, 1996. History and educational philosophy of the UCA.
(Stacks LE11.S35 B45 1996)

Dean Brackley, S.J. "Christian University and Liberation: The Challenge of the UCA." Discovery (Jesuit International Ministries), Dec. 1992, pp. 1-17 (out of print); reprinted in British Journal of Theological Education 9/1 (Spring 1997). Educational philosophy of the UCA and its challenge for Christian education.

Luis Calero, S.J. "A Christian University at the Service of the Poor," in Robert S. Pelton, C.S.C. From Power to Communion: Toward a New War of Being Church Based on the Latin American Experience. (Notre Dame and London: University of Notre Dame Press, 1994), pp. 37-62.

*Robert Lassalle-Klein. Book on the UCA forthcoming.

Cf. essays in Toward a Society that Serves Its People, Hassett and Lacey, eds. (above).

Films and Videos

A Question of Conscience: The Murder of the Jesuit Priests in El Salvador. A film by Ilan Ziv. Icarus/Tamouz Production. First Run Features, 153 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10014.

*"Good News from El Salvador, Fr. Jon Sobrino, S.J." Reflections on the murder of six Jesuit priests and two women in San Salvador in November 1989. The address covers such issues as keeping the martyrs alive, touching the idols, being human and solidarity. Produced by CAFOD (England), Catholic Relief Services (USA), Trocaire (Ireland), etc.

Killing Priests Is Good News. BBC, 1990. Features J. Sobrino, W. Ford and D. Brackley.

A video produced for the tenth anniversary of the UCA martyrs can be acquired by contacting the Jesuit Curia in Rome.

Enemies of War, a film by Esther Cassidy (1999), covers the legacy of the martyrs in El Salvador during the last 9 years. It should be aired by PBS, but you can get an uncut version from Esther even now at: amerinda@spacelab.net.
(ITC Stacks Video F1488.3.E54)

Sobrino and Ellacuría

Jon Sobrino. A Spirituality of Liberation: Toward Political Holiness. Orbis, 1988.
(Stacks BT83.57.S72713 1988)

Jon Sobrino. Jesus the Liberator. A Historical-Theological Reading of Jesus of Nazareth. Orbis, 1993.

Jon Sobrino. The Principle of Mercy. Taking the Crucified People from the Cross. Orbis, 1994.

Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Ellacuría, eds. Systematic Theology: Perspectives from Liberation Theology. Orbis, 1996.
(Stacks BT83.57.S69513 1994)

Jon Sobrino. Christ the Liberator: A View from the Victims. Orbis, 2001. Sequel to Jesus the Liberator. Winner of the Catholic Book Award.
(Stacks BV970.I6C47)

Jon Sobrino. Witnesses to the Kingdom. The Martyrs of El Salvador and the Crucified Peoples. Orbis, 3003. A collection of essays.

THE FOUR U.S. CHURCHWOMEN: ITA, MAURA, DOROTHY AND JEAN, MARTYRED IN 1980

Judith M. Noone, M.M. The Same Fate as the Poor. 2d edn. Orbis, 1994. The Story of Maryknoll sisters Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Carla Priette.

Ana Carrigan. Salvador Witness: The Life and Calling of Jean Donovan. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1984.

Dorothy Chapon Kazel. Alleluia Woman: Sister Dorothy Kazel, O.S.U. Cleveland: Chapel Publications (P.O. Box 210107, Cleveland, OH 44121), 1987. Biographical essay by Dorothy Kazel's niece.

Cynthia Glavac, O.S.U. In the Fullness of Life: A Biography of Dorothy Kazel, O.S.U. Denville, NJ: Dimension Books, 1996.

Phyllis Zagano. Ita Ford: Missionary Martyr. New York: Paulist, 1996. Brief biography of Ita Ford.

Film

Roses in December. The story of Jean Donovan by Ana Carrigan and Bernard Stone. Available from Maryknoll World Productions. Tel. 1-800-227-8523.
(ITC Stacks Video BV2843.S4 1982)

NOTE: Several works are available from Orbis at Maryknoll, New York. These can be acquired via e-mail: orbcustsvc@aol.com or orbisbook@aol.com. Similarly, EPICA can be contacted via e-mail at: epica@igc.org.

In addition:

Each year the Latin American/North American Church Concerns program of the Kellogg Institute at Notre Dame sponsors a talk in memory of Archbishop Romero. The following are all available free on request from Robert Pelton, C.S.C. at robert.s.pelton.1@nd.edu. (Notice all the dots.)

César Jerez, S.J., "Prophetic Possibilities for the Church in Central America," 1987. Archbp. Luciano Mendes De Almeida, "Martyrs, Heroes and the Contemporary Church: Latin America and the United States," 1988.

Dr. Frances O'Gorman, "Martyrdom and Beyond: A Journey in Memory of Archbishop Romero," 1989.

Joseph Nangle, O.F.M., "Archbishop Romero's Challenge to U.S. Universities," 1990.

Terry Lynn Karl, "Death and Rebirth in El Salvador," 1991.

Edward T. Brett, "The Pastoral Role of the Catholic Church in Latin America: The 16th Century and the 20th Century," 1992.

Margaret E. Crahan, "Truth-Telling and Human Rights Accountability: The Case of El Salvador in Comparative Perspective," 1993.

Robert McAfee Brown, "Archbishop Romero: A First-Hand Account," 1994.

Rubén Zamora, "The Empowering Spirit of Archbishop Romero: A Personal Testimony," 1995.

Dean Brackley, S.J., "Rutilio and Romero: Martyrs for Our Time," 1997.

Anna L. Peterson, "Progressive Catholicism in El Salvador: During the Civil War and Today," 1998.

Margaret Swedish, "Archbishop Romero and His Commitment to the Church," 1999.