Heidi Schlumpf makes the case that four US Churchwomen who were killed in El Salvador in December 1980, Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel and lay missioner Jean Donovan, should also be recognized as martyrs and saints by the Catholic Church.
As with Romero, some Catholics question whether these women were killed in odium fidei, literally "in hatred for the faith." Traditionally this has meant death for refusing to renounce one's Christian beliefs. In August, Pope Francis told reporters that one of the questions the Vatican congregation faced with Romero's case was whether such hatred could also be because of the good works the person did because of his or her belief.
This week's announcement about Romero seems to have answered that question.
It seems that the reason why the Catholic Church in the Vatican has not been discussing whether these women should be recognized as martyrs or saints is because no one has asked them to consider the question. Investigating whether these women were martyrs and saints would have to start in the Church in El Salvador where they served or the United States where they were raised. The push would most like have to come their religious orders as well, the Maryknolls and the Ursuline Sisters, because of the organizational capacity and finances that are required to push to process forward. However, none seem to have been raising the issue.
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