Chilean priest, a Pinochet supporter, draws
fire
By DAVID MOLINEAUX
Special to the National Catholic Reporter Santiago,
Chile
Church officials here are under growing pressure to remove Fr.
Raul Hasbún, a controversial TV figure, from Chiles Catholic
University channel.
Hasbún is a Santiago diocesan priest and a strong supporter
of former dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, under arrest in London following an
extradition request by Spanish courts.
Hasbún, 65, has a high profile in Chile. For many years he
has delivered a spiritual commentary during the Catholic University
channels Friday evening news. He also conducts a regular feature on the
Spanish-language edition of Mother Angelicas EWTN.
His words have irritated many Chileans in recent months. At a
military gathering in August, he referred to Chilean Socialists as
parasites and bloodsuckers. Despite the
Socialists intrinsically unpatriotic attitudes, he said, some
people are willing to allow them to guide the countrys destiny at
the highest levels. The front-runner in Chiles upcoming
presidential electoral race is Socialist Ricardo Lagos.
The Socialists immediately announced a lawsuit against the priest;
they withdrew it in early September, however, calling instead for an
apology.
The apology has not been forthcoming.
Coming at a moment when church authorities are attempting to
promote a climate of national unity, Hasbúns remarks provoked a
vigorous response from church officials.
Santiago Archbishop Francisco Javier Errázuriz issued what
amounted to a public reprimand, telling the press he was deeply
pained by Hasbúns expressions. This is not the way
wed like a priest of the Santiago church to speak, he added.
The priests remarks have been damaging. They hamper
our efforts to heal the wounds of the past, declared Bishop Manuel Camilo
Vial of San Felipe, general secretary of the Chilean Bishops Conference.
Bishop Tomás González of Punta Arenas said that
Hasbúns words have nothing to do with the teachings of
Jesus.
Two Chilean bishops, Fernando Ariztía of Copiapó and
Carlos Camus of Linares called for the priests ouster from the Catholic
University TV channel. They revealed that several months ago a group of bishops
approached Archbishop Errázuriz privately, requesting that
Hasbúns TV spot be canceled.
Earlier this year, Hasbún made several public statements
regarded as offensive by human rights groups, going so far as to defend leaders
of the notorious Colonia Dignidad in south central Chile. This closed
German-speaking enclave is reported to have been a secret torture and execution
center during the Pinochet years; it is currently under investigation by
Chilean courts.
In May, Hasbún compared Jesus witness to that of the
detained former dictator, prompting more than 4,000 Catholics to sign a letter
calling for his removal from the TV channel and from the faculty of
Santiagos major seminary, where he teaches homiletics and moral
theology.
Undeterred, Hasbún flew to London in July to baptize a
Pinochet grandchild and offer spiritual comfort to the family. He
spoke of the former dictators great moral rectitude.
Coming from Hasbún, none of these expressions surprises
Chileans: the priest has long been an emblem of religious and political
conservatism.
Hasbún played a highly visible role in opposition to the
elected socialist government of Salvador Allende (1970-73). Appointed executive
director of the Catholic University TV station in 1972, he was in control of
programming at the time of the 1973 military coup, during which President
Allende died. Immediately following the bloody takeover, an around-the-clock
curfew was imposed; troops hunted down thousands of Chileans, and great numbers
were jailed and tortured. Many were killed or exiled.
In addition to his current TV role, Hasbún does spots on
several radio stations, writes in a variety of local newspapers and magazines,
and is a regular speaker at military ceremonies and at events sponsored by
Chiles political right.
Whatever may be the outcome of the current controversy, it appears
that Hasbúns star is declining. Within the last year, the Catholic
University channel has cut back his airtime, offering space to Fr. Rodrigo
Tupper, Santiagos vicar for youth ministry. Informed observers expect
that after the dust of the latest controversies settles, church authorities
will assign Hasbún to tasks that distance him from the media
limelight.
National Catholic Reporter, October 1,
1999
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