In the 1970’s the struggle between Communist guerillas and conservative authoritarian regimes intensified, the Church began to be a champion of individual human rights in an attempt to protect the people from both political extremes.
With the breakdown of law and authority, the Church attempted to act as a conscience for decency in societies where the rule of law did not exist.
For example: El Salvador, the Church consistently denounced the activities of the right-wing death squads and the use of torture by the military. In March of 1980, the Archbishop of San Salvador was murdered as he was delivering mass.