[SANITIZED]LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS: STAFF NOTES SEPTEMBER 27, 1976 - 1976/09/27

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628134
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: September 27, 1976

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
Latin American Trends
STAFF NOTES
3.5(c)
S-effet
159
CI SNLA 76-051
No. 0991-76
September 27, 1976
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
NR
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
SE-ET
LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS
This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington com-
munity by the Western Hemisphere Division, Office of Current Intelligence,
with occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of
Intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to
the authors of the individual articles.
CONTENTS
September 27, 1976
Argentina: Churchmen and the Junta 8
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
,sEets
Argentina: Churchmen and the Junta
Catholic church leaders again appear to be
having second thoughts about the lukewarm approval
they expressed for the military junta some months
ago.
High-ranking clerics met last week with junta
members to express concern over a number of prob-
lems, chief among them the continuing abuses of
human rights by elements of the security forces.
The papal nuncio in Buenos Aires, who met with Pres-
ident Videla, told US embassy officers that unless
the government soon changes its ways, there could
be an "open confrontation" with the church.
Last June, seventy bishops issued a pastoral
letter voicing general though not effusive support
for the government. That document raised--but only
very cautiously--such issues as human rights viola-
tions and hardships brought on by economic auster-
ity measures. Since that time, however, the murders
and abduction of citizens by security officials act-
ing with virtual impunity have caused growing concern
among tha churchmen. The killing of seven priests
in two separate incidents last July was particularly
alarming.
Even in the face of such developments, however,
the clerics have been loath to attack the government
publicly. They have, for the most part, limited
their response to private meetings like the sessions
held recently. The murders of the priests in July
prompted a personal confrontation between some church-
men and the government's top security official but
resulted in only a relatively bland public statement
from the church.
September 27, 1976
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134
�
Some churchmen argue against a break with the govern-
ment because there is, of course, no guarantee that
any action by the church can compel the junta to
take corrective action. An open break might even
prompt some officers to retaliate against church
critics. Many clerics may yet conclude that, under
the circumstances, it could be counterproductive to
press Videla too hard or in any way to contribute
to a weakening of his position. At least he is a
known quantity, whose moderate preferences seem
genuine, even if they do not'l'always prevail. Were
he displaced, his successor might prove even less
concerned about those issues that preoccupy the
church.
-9 -
3.5(c)
September 27, 1976
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628134