The Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits have seen many tragedies as well as successes. One of their most recent tragedies occurred in Central America. Six Jesuit priests along with other staff members were killed, these killings were caused by the governments of more than one country.

             The Jesuit order was started by St. Ignatious Loyola. He worked as a mercenary but was forced into bed when a cannonball shattered the bone in his leg. After a long recovery he started the order of the Jesuits. The Jesuits believe in finding God in all things. .

             In 1540 Pope Paul II made the Jesuits an actual order in the Christian religion. This new order became famous for blending into the society they are trying to convert. This is a dangerous thing to do. They travel into a potentially dangerous area unarmed. They bring the tools they need to convert the people and pray for the best.

             This does not always work though. There have been many martyrs over the years, the most recent being in Central America in the small country of San Salvador. The country was in the middle of a bloody civil war. It began in the late 1970"s when a radical organization related to guerrilla movements came to power. .

             In 1980 Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot at the altar. He voiced dislike towards the policies of government in El Salvador. After he became archbishop his good friend Fr. Rutillo Grande, who taught liberation theology, was murdered by a military death-squad. The death-squad was under control of the El Salvadorian Government. This affected his preaching. In the beginning he was not backed by anyone in words, not even the church, but was followed nationwide by the poor of San Salvador. .

             His fight for human rights ended up crossing borders and was heard internationally. He is quoted as saying "Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.