Article: Essence of martyrdom.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)

* As a historical theologian in the Catholic tradition, I take exception to Joan Chittister's article on the martyrdom of Fr. Andrea Santoro (NCR, March 3). Chittister responds to the preliminary discussion of Fr. Santoro's beatification with her own preemptive opposition, rooted in two notions with which I take issue.

First, she limits martyrdom to those who die for refusing to renounce explicitly their Christian faith. While many Christians have laudably achieved martyr status in face of such a challenge, particularly during the reigns of Roman emperors Decius and Diocletian (as Chittister acknowledges), many more have suffered martyrdom simply as a response to ...

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