The U.S. hindered justice for a group of brutally murdered U.S. nuns, Retro Reports reminds us
It's hard to imagine how the rape, beating, and execution of three U.S. nuns and a Catholic lay missionary by a U.S.-backed government would play out in the age of blogs and YouTube. But in the 1980s, the outrage in America didn't translate to government action. In a new mini-documentary, Retro Report looks back at the brutal murders of Maryknoll sisters Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, and Dorothy Kazel, and fellow aid volunteer Jean Donovan, by the Salvadoran military.
The tale unfolds through TV news footage and interviews with former Maryknoll nun Peggy Healy; Robert E. White, the U.S. ambassador to El Salvador at the time; and Scott Greathead, a lawyer for the families of the churchwomen. "Of course, all the families believed that the U.S. government would do whatever was necessary to bring those who had killed them to justice," Healy says now. "It just became increasingly clear over time that they would be a roadblock.... How the U.S. government handled this case was one of the gravest damages."
President Jimmy Carter briefly suspended all aid to the Salvadoran government, but resumed the money when leftist guerrillas started an offensive against the U.S.-backed government. Ronald Reagan's administration greatly increased support, and top-level Reagan officials suggested publicly that the nuns had been "political activists" who maybe ran a government roadblock. After outside pressure and the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests by U.S. trained death squads, five Salvadoran national guardsmen were convicted of the murders. In 1998 they admitted they were ordered to kill the U.S. nuns.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The last part of the 13-minute video looks at the current effort to deport two top Salvadoran generals — who retired to Florida — found by a U.N.-sponsored truth commission to have at least covered up the military's involvement in the killings of Ford, Clarke, Kazel, and Donovan, plus hundreds of others. Watch the video below, but be warned there is mildly graphic violence. --Peter Weber
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'A new era of hurricanes'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
How Britain's demographic is changing
A 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The story of Japanese jeweller Tasaki
The Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
By Felix Bischof Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published