In 1976, during Argentina's dictatorship, the navy kidnapped priests Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics. Some have accused Francis, then provincial superior for the Society of Jesus, of not doing enough to assert his influence and free them. They were found five months later.
The incident led to rumors and allegations that Francis was complicit in the dictatorship's appalling atrocity -- that he didn't do enough to expose it and perhaps was even partly responsible for the priests' prolonged detention, said Jim Nicholson, a former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
Although the allegations against Francis have never been proved, they continue to haunt him, so much so that the human rights group Center for Legal and Social Studies in Argentina opposes Francis' selection as pope.
Situations relating to the priests' kidnappings "have not been clarified," said the group's director, Gaston Chillier.
Many of the allegations against Francis were researched by Argentine journalist Horacio Verbitsky, who wrote a book about the church's role during the dictatorship.
In a 2010 column, Verbitsky alleged that Francis had lied under oath during an investigation into the theft of babies from prisoners during the dictatorship.
Francis testified that he never knew about the baby-stealing until after the dictatorship had fallen, Verbitsky wrote, but a victim Verbitsky interviewed claims that Francis knew about it at the time. She said she had written to Francis about it.
Nicholson said there's no evidence to support the allegations.
The current president in our country started a campaign against Francisco lying with his involvement with the military during the dictatorship, because he was clearly against her corruption, and talked against her politics when he was archbishop.
People who were kidnapped and were victims of the dictatorship have talked, now, and during the investigation in his favor. They said he saved them, helped them leave the country so they wouldn't be kidnapped, tortured or killed. And helped them meet secretly their relatives and children when they were hidden.
Nothing was ever proved cause the allegations were false, and the people doing the accusations had a clear agenda against those who don't or didn't support the political movements.
The incident led to rumors and allegations that Francis was complicit in the dictatorship's appalling atrocity -- that he didn't do enough to expose it and perhaps was even partly responsible for the priests' prolonged detention, said Jim Nicholson, a former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
Although the allegations against Francis have never been proved, they continue to haunt him, so much so that the human rights group Center for Legal and Social Studies in Argentina opposes Francis' selection as pope.
Situations relating to the priests' kidnappings "have not been clarified," said the group's director, Gaston Chillier.
Many of the allegations against Francis were researched by Argentine journalist Horacio Verbitsky, who wrote a book about the church's role during the dictatorship.
In a 2010 column, Verbitsky alleged that Francis had lied under oath during an investigation into the theft of babies from prisoners during the dictatorship.
Francis testified that he never knew about the baby-stealing until after the dictatorship had fallen, Verbitsky wrote, but a victim Verbitsky interviewed claims that Francis knew about it at the time. She said she had written to Francis about it.
Nicholson said there's no evidence to support the allegations.
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The current president in our country started a campaign against Francisco lying with his involvement with the military during the dictatorship, because he was clearly against her corruption, and talked against her politics when he was archbishop.
People who were kidnapped and were victims of the dictatorship have talked, now, and during the investigation in his favor. They said he saved them, helped them leave the country so they wouldn't be kidnapped, tortured or killed. And helped them meet secretly their relatives and children when they were hidden.
Nothing was ever proved cause the allegations were false, and the people doing the accusations had a clear agenda against those who don't or didn't support the political movements.
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