Rome, Italy, Mar 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, told reporters this weekend the government of Argentina could be violating religious freedom if it withdraws its recognition of the Bishop of the Military Diocese, Antonio Juan Baseotto.
Asked by journalists about the government’s announcement it would withdraw recognition, Navarro-Valls said, “Normally I do not comment on these types of stories,” but he noted that, “regarding the news reported by the media about the actions taken by the President of Argentina in the confrontation with Bishop Antonio Juan Baseotto, we are awaiting an official communication from Argentina to the Supreme Pontiff, who has named him Ordinary of the Military.”
“Obviously,” warned the Vatican spokesman, “if the pastoral ministry of a bishop legitimately appointed by the Holy See according to the norms of Canon Law and the applicable accords is prevented from being exercised, it would mean a violation of religious freedom that goes way beyond the established accords.”
On Friday, March 18, the government of Argentina revoked the decree recognizing Bishop Baseotto as Ordinary of the Military, which was originally signed in 2002 by then-President Eduardo Duhalde.