The Vatican is defending newly elected Pope Francis against allegations he was complicit in human rights abuses during Argentina's 1976-1983 military junta.
"[The accusations] reveal left-wing elements, anti-clerical elements that are used to attack the church," said a Vatican spokesman during a Friday news conference, adding that the allegations are "defamatory."
"They must be firmly and clearly denied."
During Argentina's troubled period, the military kidnapped or killed tens of thousands of people. The military claimed to be fighting against "subversive elements."
The Vatican says no credible accusation had ever stuck against the new pope, formerly called Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who was born in and has lived most of his life in Argentina, said CBC's Karen Pauls from Vatican City. Instead, the Catholic Church is focusing on testimony that the Pope actually helped many people privately and publicly during that time, she said.
However, many Argentines have accused him and the Church over the years of staying silent during a time of human rights abuses, she said. Some even say the Church may have been complicit in turning in some people working against the military dictatorship, she said.
The Buenos Aires memorial to the thousands who disappeared during the military dictatorship in Argentina. (Peter McCluskey/CBC) One such accusation came from a Jesuit priest. In 1976, two priests were kidnapped and tortured. One of the pair, Orlando Yorkio, accused Bergoglio of effectively handing them over to the death squads by declining to tell the military regime that he endorsed their work.
The Pope has previously said he had taken extraordinary measures to free the pair.
Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, noted Friday that one of the two men who was kidnapped issued a statement saying the he had subsequently reconciled with Bergoglio.
While there has never been any clear evidence that Bergoglio ever put people in harm's way, said CBC's Adrienne Arsenault from Buenos Aires, that doesn't mean people didn't want him to speak up for their rights.
Today, many Argentines are complaining that the new Pope stayed too silent during a time the country needed his authoritative voice, she said. One critic compared the situation to a mother not working hard enough to help her children.
She said those wounds have not closed for the mainly Catholic country — where church attendance has been dropping. About 90 per cent of Argentines are Catholic, but only between 10-20 per cent are practicing their faith.
She said many haven't forgotten or forgiven the Church for their actions, or lack of action, during the "dirty war."
With files from the Associated PressAnda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Vatican defends Pope against 'dirty war' accusations
Dengan url
http://topstorinfo.blogspot.com/2013/03/vatican-defends-pope-against-dirty-war.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Vatican defends Pope against 'dirty war' accusations
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Vatican defends Pope against 'dirty war' accusations
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar