About the Episode:
In this episode of Global Stage, David Lantigua and Todd Walatka, professors in the Theology Department at the University of Notre Dame and co-directors of the Óscar Romero Working Group at the Kellogg Institute, talk about Notre Dame's role in the continued studies of St. Óscar Romero. In conversation with theology masters student Robert Hernandez, Walatka and Lantigua discuss the history of the Latin American/North American Church Concerns (LANACC) at Kellogg and the role of universities in studying a figure like Romero, who insisted on praxis and reality over ideas and theory. This podcast is the second in a special series based on the Romero conference that took place at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies in the spring of 2025.
Show Notes:
Welcome to Global Stage, brought to you by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Your host today is Robert Hernandez, a Master’s student in Theological Studies at Notre Dame. He is joined by Kellogg faculty fellows Todd Walatka and David Lantigua, both of whom are deeply engaged in the study of Oscar Romero and Latin American theology. Both emphasize how Romero's writings and witness offer a deeply compelling expression of the gospel. The film and events like Romero Days at Notre Dame played key roles in bringing Romero’s legacy to life for new generations of students and scholars.
The conversation then turns to the global relevance of Romero’s witness, highlighted by the recent international Romero Days 2025 conference. Todd explains that Romero’s appeal lies in how he both affirms and challenges people's faith commitments, urging a broader, more integrated vision of the gospel. David adds that Romero embodies a rare authenticity that speaks not only to believers but also to those outside the Church. They connect Romero’s legacy to the mission of LANAC, an outreach that promotes mutual exchange between the Latin American and North American churches.
The conversation then turns to the global relevance of Romero’s witness, highlighted by the recent international Romero Days 2025 conference. Todd explains that Romero’s appeal lies in how he both affirms and challenges people's faith commitments, urging a broader, more integrated vision of the gospel. David adds that Romero embodies a rare authenticity that speaks not only to believers but also to those outside the Church. They connect Romero’s legacy to the mission of LANAC, an outreach that promotes mutual exchange between the Latin American and North American churches.
Romero challenges the US Church to adopt a more incarnational and justice-oriented approach to human dignity and development, deeply influenced by the Latin American concept of the “preferential option for the poor.” Romero's theology is noted for its authenticity and proximity to suffering communities, showing how faith becomes transformative when it emerges from and speaks to the realities of poverty and marginalization. His legacy reflects charity from above and empowerment from within – supporting the poor in organizing and defining their own paths toward justice and flourishing.
While Latin America offers a prophetic witness like Romero’s, the US Church can contribute in areas such as lay theological education, especially empowering laypeople to study theology. The conversation then moves to the academic responsibility of remembering Romero accurately. As he becomes more widely celebrated, there's a risk of softening or distorting his radical legacy. Scholars are called to preserve his true message and adapt it meaningfully to today's world. The future of Romero studies, they argue, lies not just in academic analysis but in a lived theology – one that listens both to the Gospel and the voices of the people, capturing faith as it's expressed through community, art, action, and the daily struggle for justice.
Links:
- Learn more about David Lantigua and Todd Walatka.
- Learn more about the Kellogg Institute.
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