Martin Barahona, R.I.P.

The retired Anglican bishop of El Salvador and primate of the Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America (IARCA), Martin Barahona, has died at age 75. Fr. Martin navigated rough political and ecclesial waters with grace and friendliness, advocating welcome to all while seeking justice for the poor and oppressed. Shown here on a visit to San Francisco in 2007, he walked the Mission neighborhood, taking in the rough conditions in which migrants from his country found themselves. In particular, he met with Salvadoran women organized in Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) to discuss what sort of education his diocese could carry out in San Salvador to encourage prospective migrants to adopt a realistic view of the trials and difficulties they might encounter if they made the journey.

In 2000, Fr. Martin was one of the founders of Cristosal which works to advance human rights throughout Central America through research, accompaniment of endangered victims, and litigation.