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Persecution of people because of their religious believes is nothing new. The early Christians were martyred because of it. As the Church became more physically powerful it gradually lost the Spiritual fervency and begun persecuting all those who tried to bring it back to its source. This cycle continues today as active Christians are killed by the enemies of love and peace.
This page is dedicated to the Martyrs, whose life and death bring the hope and certainty of a better World, soon to come

U.S. Missionary
Killed In Philippines

( MCNS) -- An American missionary and a Filipino nurse held hostage for more than a year by Muslim extremists in the southern Philippines were killed on Friday during a rescue attempt by Philippine troops to free them, Philippine military officials said. A third hostage was wounded by the gunfire in her right leg but is reportedly out of danger.

Martin Burnham was killed by a gunshot during the raid near the town of Siraway, said General Narciso Abaya, the Philippine deputy military chief of staff. Deborah Yap, a Filipino nurse held hostage with the couple was also shot in the operation and died of her wounds shortly afterward.

Martin's wife Gracia Burnham was reportedly wounded by the gunfire in her right leg and is recovering in a military hospital in the southern city of Zamboanga.

The three hostages were the last held among a group snatched over a year ago by Abu Sayyaf kidnappers from a beach resort in western Palawan province. Abu Sayyaf reportedly has ties to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.

Philippine officials said that four of the kidnappers were killed and several soldiers wounded in the operation.

News agencies are reporting that, while no U.S. troops were directly involved in the raid, at least one U.S. helicopter was retrieving more wounded from the clash scene. Over 1,000 U.S. Special Forces have joined Philippine patrols in a joint mission to destroying Abu Sayyaf.

"The Philippine armed forces made a rescue attempt. In that rescue attempt, Mr. Burnham was killed, Mrs. Burnham was wounded," General Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters in Brussels.

The Burnham's three children -- Jeff, 15; Mindy, 12, and Zach, 11 -- were in Missouri with their maternal grandparents.

Relatives said Friday that they were numbed by the news but their religious faith would carry them through.

"Obviously it hasn't turned out the way we hoped. But we are grateful Gracia is alive. Our faith in the Lord is still the same. That hasn't changed," said Martin Burnham's brother, Doug, before an early morning prayer service.

"It is kind of shocking news. It is difficult. God has given us strength. It is kind of numbing right now. I suppose the full impact has not hit us," he said.

Pastor Robert Varner, who conducted the prayer service, said that Martin Burnham's suffering has ended. "We are disappointed. We are saddened. It wasn't what we hoped for, but the fact is, there has been some closure to this," Varner said.

Referring to the Burnham's family, Varner said "The unknown takes a lot of toll on them. At least now they know where Martin is."

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The destinies of Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel, and Jean Donovan were joined together in just the last months of their lives. Murdered together by National Guardsmen in El Salvador on December 2, 1980, their deaths became martyrdom for a church of the poor in El Salvador and for thousands of Christians in the United States. Three members of the death squad were trained by the USA run, School of the Americas.

Dorothy Kazel ------Ita Ford -----Jean Donovan ---Maura Clarke
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Oscar Romero (1917-1980)
" I am bound as a pastor, by divine command to give my life for those whom I love, and that is all Salvadorans, even those who are going to kill me"
These words appeared in a newspaper just two weeks before Archbishop Romero was shot while celebrating Holy Communion in the hospital which had been his home since his enthronement in 1977.

The murder of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero was investigated by the UN Truth Commission in 1992. The following excerpts are from the commission's final report.

On Monday, 24 March 1980, the Archbishop of San Salvador, Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez, was celebrating mass in the Chapel of the Hospital de la Divina Providencia when he was killed by a professional assassin who fired a single .22 or .223 caliber bullet from a red, four door Volkswagen vehicle. The bullet hit its mark, causing the Archbishop's death from severe bleeding.

Background: Monsignor Romero had become a well-known critic of violence and injustice, as such, was perceived in right-wing civilian and military circles as a dangerous enemy. His sermons deeply irritated these circles because they included human rights violations…. In his sermon on 17 February 1980, he expressed opposition to United States military aid to El Salvador, pointing out that "...neither the (Government) Junta nor the Christian Democrats govern this country. Political power is in the hands of the armed forces which are unscrupulous in their use of this power. They only know how to repress the people and defend the interests of the Salvadoran oligarchy."

That same month, he received death threats and therefore decided that his colleagues should not accompany him when he went out, so as not to expose them to unnecessary risks. On Monday, 10 March...an attache case was found near the High Altar behind the pulpit, which the Police found had contained a bomb that had failed to go off.

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Angela Smith.

Angela Smith, 51 passed away Jan. 8th, victim of a heinous crime,while visiting in Tucson, Arizona. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Virginia, Angela graduated Edison H.S., Fairfax Co. She served as a nondenominational Christian missionary for more than 30 years on nearly every continent, most recently in Mexico.

She left the missionary life to settle in Palo Alto last year. The Lord's spark lighted Angela's spirit which, in turn, illuminated the heart of everyone she met. No one who met her will forget her. Angela's humble eagerness to give an encouraging word to a stranger in any of the many languages she spoke, is just one way she reflected His love on earth in her every action.

"News of Smith's death has been especially painful to the staff at Palo Alto's Restoration Hardware, who remember their co-worker as an exceptionally kind and trusting spirit. ``Always something sweet,'' said Gretchen Mills, who took a chance and hired Smith though she had no retail experience.

According to her mother, it was Smith's first job in years that was not connected to Family International.

Mills said Smith caught on quickly, winning over customers and staff with a ready smile and warm personality. She brought snacks for the stock team and would interest herself in the details of her co-workers lives -- remembering to ask about dates and doctors appointments."
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