Owen, Diana

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Conversations on Jesuit Higher EducationVolume 46 Article 279-1-2014Book Review of When the Gospel Grows Feet: RutilioGrande, SJ, and the Church of El Salvador, by ThomasM. KelleyDiana OwenFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversationsRecommended CitationOwen, Diana (2014) "Book Review of When the Gospel Grows Feet: Rutilio Grande, SJ, and the Church of El Salvador, by Thomas M.Kelley," Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education: Vol. 46, Article 27.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversations/vol46/iss1/2742 ConversationsBook ReviewThe main cathedral in theArchdiocese of SanSalvador is a physicalmanifestation of the deepdivision in the CatholicChurch in El Salvador.The traditional cathedral on the mainfloor is elaborately adorned; the arch-bishop’s seat is located at a distancefrom the congregation, whose partici-pation in mass is limited. The spartanbasement houses the tomb of the mar-tyred Archbishop Oscar Romero; visit-ing priests from the countryside saymass from the small altar surroundedby people who actively take part whileseated on folding chairs. With thisimagery, Thomas Kelly illustrates thetensions between the official and thepopular forms of the Catholic Churchthat have shaped El Salvador’s politicalhistory for centuries. Kelly’s astute work examines thefar-ranging consequences of these divi-sions in El Salvador’s long-standingstruggle for social justice from an his-torical and theological perspective. Hebegins with an exploration of the cul-tural legacy of the Catholic Church inthe colonization of Latin America from1500 to 1820 and its influence on theextant social hierarchy. This discussionprovides a context for his analysis ofthe impact of Vatican II in LatinAmerica as the church worldwideaffirmed its commitment to a commongood that respects the dignity of allpeople. Latin American bishops, in alandmark move, called for structuralchanges in the social and economicorder. Tensions arose in El Salvadorbetween the government and thechurch as progressive clergy began toencourage marginalized people to actas their own agents in improving theirlot in life. As Kelly argues, there ismuch to be learned from the Catholicexperience in El Salvador. In fact, tounderstand Pope Francis is to under-stand the church of Latin America.Rutilio Grande, S.J., was an advo-cate for the poor and disenfranchisedin El Salvador who was gunned downalong with his lay companions, ManuelSolorzano and Nelson Rutilio Lemus,while driving on a dusty road on theirway to evening mass. Rutilio’s storyforms the focal point for Kelly’s analy-sis as he addresses the key question:“How could powerful forces within theoverwhelmingly Catholic country of ElSalvador carry out the execution of apriest in broad daylight in front of wit-nesses?” Rutilio engaged in a pastoralvariation on liberation theology inwhich he promoted the developmentof a new faith community grounded inthe Gospel that promoted action onbehalf of justice. He adopted the credo“see, judge, act” and was path-breakingin his use of social science to gainknowledge of the problems faced bySalvadorans in order to develop aninformed action plan. He mentoredcommunity leaders who tackled keyissues, such as education and landreform. In so doing, he walked atightrope between evangelization andpoliticization that ultimately cost himhis life. Rutilio’s assassination influ-enced his friend, Archbishop Romero,to work more stridently on behalf ofthe oppressed. Kelly was urged by the late DeanBrackley, S.J., to tell Rutilio’s story,which has been overshadowed by thewar in El Salvador and ArchbishopRomero’s assassination in 1980.When the Gospel Grows Feet: Rutilio Grande, SJ, and the Church of ElSalvador, by Thomas M. KellyCollegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 279 pages, $29.95By Diana OwenDiana Owen is associate professor inthe department of communications,culture, and technology at GeorgetownUniversity; she is a member of theNational Seminar on Jesuit HigherEducation. 1Owen: Book Review of <em>When the Gospel Grows Feet: Rutilio Grande, SJPublished by e-Publications@Marquette, 2014Conversations 43Brackley took the place of one of thesix Jesuits murdered in 1989 with theirhousekeeper and her daughter at theUniversity of Central America (UCA) inSan Salvador and worked tirelessly forsocial justice. It was at the UCA thatKelly’s meticulous research led him todiscover and translate articles writtenby Rutilio in Busqueda, a journal wherepriests shared conversations about theirministries. He also interviewed numer-ous associates of Rutilio. Kelly has spent considerable time inEl Salvador both accompanying studentson immersion programs and researchingthis book. Although he wrote it for stu-dents, the text has a far wider appeal toscholars and anyone interested in under-standing the nexus between the churchand politics in El Salvador or learningabout Rutilio’s understated but enduringinfluence on the Christian community.Sophisticated in its argument, the bookremains broadly accessible by virtue ofKelly’s crisp prose and willingness toclarify terms that may be unfamiliar tonontheologians. I discovered the bookwhile preparing for a mission trip to ElSalvador with the Ignatian ColleaguesProgram and found it to be an extraordi-nary resource. ■Book ReviewTom Kelly and participants in the Ignatian Colleagues Program pilgrimage to El Salvador inFebruary 2014 at the site of the assassination of Rutilio Grande, S.J., and his lay companions.Three books rise out of thetsunami of papal imageand myth-making. Takentogether, they give a graspof Jorge Mario Bergoglio,Pope Francis, adequate tokeeping one’s nose above the flood. Start with Pope Francis:Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio, bySergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti.The Argentine journalists interviewedthe cardinal-archbishop as he waspreparing for his mandatory retirementas Archbishop of Buenos Aires at age75. The book appeared in Argentina asEl Jesuita in 2010, and in 2013 in a fineEnglish translation (Putnam, New York).The New Dawn of Pope FrancisThree Books ReviewedBy Joseph A. Tetlow, S.J.Thomas Kelly is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at CreightonUniversity.He is the Immersion Coordinator for the Ignatian ColleaguesProgram. More information about the book can be found athttp://www.whenthegospelgrowsfeet.org/Joseph A. Tetlow, S.J., the author ofmany works on the spirituality of St.Ignatius Loyola, has served in Jesuitadministration and in the formationof young Jesuits.2Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, Vol. 46, Iss. 1 [2014], Art. 27http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversations/vol46/iss1/27

Book Review of \u3cem\u3eWhen the Gospel Grows Feet: Rutilio Grande, SJ, and the Church of El Salvador\u3c/em\u3e, by Thomas M. Kelley

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Book Review of \u3cem\u3eWhen the Gospel Grows Feet: Rutilio Grande, SJ, and the Church of El Salvador\u3c/em\u3e, by Thomas M. Kelley

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