Antonio Baseotto
Encyclopedia
Antonio Baseotto was a Roman Catholic bishop
from Argentina
. Until February 2005 he was Argentina's military bishop (obispo castrense), that is, the head of the military chaplain
s, with the status of Subsecretary of State.
Baseotto was born on April 4, 1932 and ordained as a priest
in 1957. In the 1980s, he served in the diocese
of Añatuya
, Santiago del Estero
, a province
ruled in a quasi-feudalistic
fashion by the indefinitely-reelected old-time Peronist Carlos Juárez
. During this time, he was reportedly in close relation with the Juárez family.
He was in charge of the Sunday programming schedule in a local TV channel
and several times he was formally accused of anti-Semitism
due to public statements on air. Among other things, in 1986 he affirmed that most of the Jewish community in Argentina "devotes itself, with much skill and often with very few moral principles, to big business... It does not matter the means... If pornography
is good business, [the Jew] sells pornography. And if drug
s are good business, he sells drugs...". He also claimed that "the means for spreading culture are in the hands of the Hebrews", who are "desintegrat[ing] the bases" of the national civilization and culture. He never went to court or apologized for these statements.
Baseotto was also allegedly involved in the murder of Jimena Hernández in 1988. According to some sources, he ordered to murder the girl because she discovered by mistake a meeting between the bishop and drug traffickers. Baseotto ordered Pablo López to kill her and then masked his run, making him pass by a false priest in the diocese of which he was in charged, Añatuya.http://www.mateamargo.org/agencia/node/168
In 1992 Baseotto was appointed bishop of his diocese. He spent a total of 27 years in Añatuya. During his time, he was acknowledged as a supporter of the provincial government and especially of its police
force, accused of innumerable abuses and violations of human rights
. In bishops' meetings he repeatedly refused to condemn or criticize the policies of President
Menem
's administration (denounced by most other bishops as causes of poverty
).
He once stated that laws on reproductive and sexual health (passed in several provinces), which make the State responsible for providing contraceptives to the population, "legitimize prostitution
", and compared them to Nazism
. He also made this comparison referring to aborted
fetus
es ("segregated", he claimed, as when "non-Aryan
s" were selected for extermination).
In November 2002, Baseotto was appointed military vicar (vicario castrense) by Pope John Paul II
. Due to a previous agreement with the Vatican
, this post implies an official position as Subsecretary of State (with monthly wages of about 4,500 Argentine peso
s, about 1,500 USD
).
On 10 December 2004, during the Mass of the Dead for the Country, Baseotto justified the violations of human rights
committed during the so-called Dirty War
: "It was a war, and in a war it is impossible to avoid excesses". (See also Theory of the two demons.)
On 18 February 2005, Baseotto became a national focus of controversy after he sent a letter to the national Minister of Health Ginés González García
, accusing him of committing "apology of crime" because of the minister's support for the legalization of abortion
in Argentina. Baseotto expressed his disgust by paraphrasing Mark
9:42 ("And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea") and suggesting that González García should be given that treatment. Besides the usage of scripture (widely acknowledged as inappropriate even by other Catholic bishops), Baseotto was heavily criticized because this "punishment" echoes the infamous vuelos de la muerte ("flights of death") whereby prisoners of the last military regime were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean
from planes. The conflict escalated and caused the Argentine government to relieve Baseotto from his job as the head of the military chaplain
s. This prompted accusations on the part of Catholic observers (also fueled by right-wing
opposition leaders and media) that such actions threatened religious freedom. The government pointed out that Baseotto was still a bishop and could celebrate Mass and perform pastoral duties wherever he chose — he would simply not be on the payroll of the state.
Baseotto resigned, following Canon Law, upon turning 75. Pope Benedict XVI
officially accepted the resignation on 15 May 2007, and appointed the Vicar General Pedro Candia for the post on a temporary basis until a new chaplain is chosen.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
from Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Until February 2005 he was Argentina's military bishop (obispo castrense), that is, the head of the military chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s, with the status of Subsecretary of State.
Baseotto was born on April 4, 1932 and ordained as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1957. In the 1980s, he served in the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Añatuya
Añatuya
Añatuya is a city in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. It has 30.000 inhabitants as per the , and is the head town of the General Taboada Department...
, Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero Province
Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. Neighbouring provinces are from the north clockwise Salta, Chaco, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca and Tucumán.-History:...
, a province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
ruled in a quasi-feudalistic
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
fashion by the indefinitely-reelected old-time Peronist Carlos Juárez
Carlos Juárez
Carlos Arturo Juárez was an Argentine politician, Justicialist Party governor or ruler by proxy of Santiago del Estero Province over a 55-year period, leading to his description as a caudillo....
. During this time, he was reportedly in close relation with the Juárez family.
He was in charge of the Sunday programming schedule in a local TV channel
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
and several times he was formally accused of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
due to public statements on air. Among other things, in 1986 he affirmed that most of the Jewish community in Argentina "devotes itself, with much skill and often with very few moral principles, to big business... It does not matter the means... If pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
is good business, [the Jew] sells pornography. And if drug
Psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior...
s are good business, he sells drugs...". He also claimed that "the means for spreading culture are in the hands of the Hebrews", who are "desintegrat[ing] the bases" of the national civilization and culture. He never went to court or apologized for these statements.
Baseotto was also allegedly involved in the murder of Jimena Hernández in 1988. According to some sources, he ordered to murder the girl because she discovered by mistake a meeting between the bishop and drug traffickers. Baseotto ordered Pablo López to kill her and then masked his run, making him pass by a false priest in the diocese of which he was in charged, Añatuya.http://www.mateamargo.org/agencia/node/168
In 1992 Baseotto was appointed bishop of his diocese. He spent a total of 27 years in Añatuya. During his time, he was acknowledged as a supporter of the provincial government and especially of its police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
force, accused of innumerable abuses and violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. In bishops' meetings he repeatedly refused to condemn or criticize the policies of President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
's administration (denounced by most other bishops as causes of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
).
He once stated that laws on reproductive and sexual health (passed in several provinces), which make the State responsible for providing contraceptives to the population, "legitimize prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
", and compared them to Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. He also made this comparison referring to aborted
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
es ("segregated", he claimed, as when "non-Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
s" were selected for extermination).
In November 2002, Baseotto was appointed military vicar (vicario castrense) by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. Due to a previous agreement with the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, this post implies an official position as Subsecretary of State (with monthly wages of about 4,500 Argentine peso
Argentine peso
The peso is the currency of Argentina, identified by the symbol $ preceding the amount in the same way as many countries using dollar currencies. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. Its ISO 4217 code is ARS...
s, about 1,500 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
).
On 10 December 2004, during the Mass of the Dead for the Country, Baseotto justified the violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
committed during the so-called Dirty War
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
: "It was a war, and in a war it is impossible to avoid excesses". (See also Theory of the two demons.)
On 18 February 2005, Baseotto became a national focus of controversy after he sent a letter to the national Minister of Health Ginés González García
Ginés González García
Ginés González García is a medical doctor and was the Minister of Health and Environment of Argentina during the administrations of Presidents Eduardo Duhalde and Néstor Kirchner.-Career:...
, accusing him of committing "apology of crime" because of the minister's support for the legalization of abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
in Argentina. Baseotto expressed his disgust by paraphrasing Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
9:42 ("And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea") and suggesting that González García should be given that treatment. Besides the usage of scripture (widely acknowledged as inappropriate even by other Catholic bishops), Baseotto was heavily criticized because this "punishment" echoes the infamous vuelos de la muerte ("flights of death") whereby prisoners of the last military regime were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
from planes. The conflict escalated and caused the Argentine government to relieve Baseotto from his job as the head of the military chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s. This prompted accusations on the part of Catholic observers (also fueled by right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
opposition leaders and media) that such actions threatened religious freedom. The government pointed out that Baseotto was still a bishop and could celebrate Mass and perform pastoral duties wherever he chose — he would simply not be on the payroll of the state.
Baseotto resigned, following Canon Law, upon turning 75. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
officially accepted the resignation on 15 May 2007, and appointed the Vicar General Pedro Candia for the post on a temporary basis until a new chaplain is chosen.