Miguel Hesayne
Encyclopedia
Miguel Esteban Hesayne is the Catholic
Bishop
Emeritus
of the Diocese
of Viedma.
He was ordained
priest
on 12 December 1948. He was appointed bishop of Viedma, Río Negro
, on 5 April 1975, ordained on 4 June and installed on 8 July of the same year, at the age of 52.
Hesayne was the bishop of Viedma for 20 years, until 28 June 1995, when he resigned. He ruled his episcopal see during the dictatorial
regime of the National Reorganization Process
(1976–1983), and was among the very few members of the Argentine Catholic hierarchy
to openly criticize its human rights
abuses and crimes, such as the murder (masqueraded as a road accident) of bishop Enrique Angelelli
by a military task force in 1976.
Hesayne continued to be a critic of government policies after the return of democracy, especially during the neoliberal
rule of Carlos Menem
in the 1990s, and his successor Fernando de la Rúa
. In 1999 he wrote to Menem after the president called bishop Rafael Rey
, president of Argentine Caritas
, a liar. Menem had spoken about a decrease in poverty
, and Rey had contradicted him, stating that poverty was high and had actually increased over the previous five years. Hesayne told Menem: "You might deceive even the Pope with political fallacies, but not the Lord of the Church and of History, Jesus Christ, for whom what we have truly done for the poor is worth." (Menem had been decorated by Pope John Paul II
in 1993 for his anti-abortion
stance.)
In 2001, Hesayne again criticized the neoliberal policies of President De la Rúa, and even threatened him with excommunication
. In a followup letter to him, he told the president: "Is it licit for a Christian to receive the Communion if in fact he assumes the neoliberal ideology that engenders death for millions... death of children just after birth, accelerated death for the elderly and slow death to generations of young ones? [...] All the actions of your government have been in favour of the markets, and against the people."
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Bishop
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...
Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of 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 Viedma.
He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
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...
on 12 December 1948. He was appointed bishop of Viedma, Río Negro
Río Negro Province
Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.Its capital is Viedma...
, on 5 April 1975, ordained on 4 June and installed on 8 July of the same year, at the age of 52.
Hesayne was the bishop of Viedma for 20 years, until 28 June 1995, when he resigned. He ruled his episcopal see during the dictatorial
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
regime of the National Reorganization Process
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
(1976–1983), and was among the very few members of the Argentine Catholic hierarchy
Roman Catholicism in Argentina
The Catholic Church in Argentina is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the Curia in Rome, and the Argentine Episcopal Conference....
to openly criticize its 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...
abuses and crimes, such as the murder (masqueraded as a road accident) of bishop Enrique Angelelli
Enrique Angelelli
Enrique Ángel Angelelli was a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Argentina, killed during the Dirty war for his involvement with social issues....
by a military task force in 1976.
Hesayne continued to be a critic of government policies after the return of democracy, especially during the neoliberal
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a market-driven approach to economic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of economics that emphasizes the efficiency of private enterprise, liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and therefore seeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determining the...
rule of Carlos 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:...
in the 1990s, and his successor Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
. In 1999 he wrote to Menem after the president called bishop Rafael Rey
Rafael Rey
Rafael Rey, in Peru Rafael Rey Rey is a Peruvian politician. He is the president of the Christian democratic and conservative National Renewal and was running mate of Keiko Fujimori of Force 2011 in the Peruvian general election, 2011.- Early life and education :Rafael Rey was born to engineering...
, president of Argentine Caritas
Caritas (charity)
Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide....
, a liar. Menem had spoken about a decrease in 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...
, and Rey had contradicted him, stating that poverty was high and had actually increased over the previous five years. Hesayne told Menem: "You might deceive even the Pope with political fallacies, but not the Lord of the Church and of History, Jesus Christ, for whom what we have truly done for the poor is worth." (Menem had been decorated 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 ...
in 1993 for his anti-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...
stance.)
In 2001, Hesayne again criticized the neoliberal policies of President De la Rúa, and even threatened him with excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
. In a followup letter to him, he told the president: "Is it licit for a Christian to receive the Communion if in fact he assumes the neoliberal ideology that engenders death for millions... death of children just after birth, accelerated death for the elderly and slow death to generations of young ones? [...] All the actions of your government have been in favour of the markets, and against the people."