Fr. Guadalupe Carney S.J.: the Romero of Honduras

Catholic New Times, May 9, 2004 by Larry Carney, Ted Schmidt

According to a 1997 CIA inspector general's report, US officials in Honduras were fully aware of human rights abuses by the army but did not report this as it "reflect negatively on Honduras and not to be beneficial in carrying out U.S. policy." In a handwritten declassified memo of Aug. 19, 1985, proof of official obfuscation Seemed obvious: "The Fr. Carney case is dead. Front office does not want the case active. We aren't telling the family."

In the CBC show, the Connollys were introduced to Senor Cabelleros, a Honduran refugee and a former member of the Honduran death squads. He confirmed CIA involvement and said that he had heard from others that Padre Guadalupe had been murdered, thrown out of a plane into the jungle. As well, Caballeros stated that his final gesture was to hold out his arms like Jesus on the cross and forgive his captors. Caballeros later killed himself. With tears in their eyes, the Connollys stated that they knew they were right. They had been consistently lied to.

Guadalupe's Carney's life is both an eloquent testimony to the priesthood and the Christian call to discipleship. In a age of jingoism where the radical gospel of Jesus is often subverted by the seductive corrosion of nationalism, Carney reminds all of the baptized where our central commitment must lie. Twenty years after his "disappearance," we can say with the Honduran campesinos that Guadalupe Carney has not gone. Like his Salvadoran brother, Oscar Arnulfo Romero he is indeed "presente."

Larry Carney (no relation to Guadalupe) writes from Clifford, Ont. Ted Schmidt is the editor of CNT.