Argentine priest suspended for punching the bishop who closed the seminary

A priest from the diocese of San Rafael was suspended after physically assaulting Bishop Eduardo María Taussig during a discussion on the closure of the local seminary.

Fr Camilo Dib, a priest from Malargue, more than 110 miles southwest of San Rafael, was called to the chancellery to explain "his role in the events that occurred in Malargue on November 21," according to a diocese statement dated 22. December.

On that date, Msgr. Taussig made a pastoral visit to the city to explain the controversial closure of the seminary in July 2020, which sparked a series of protests from local Catholics.

A group of protesters, including priests and lay people, interrupted the mass celebrated by Bishop Taussig and a protester slashed the tires of the bishop's vehicle, forcing him to wait for another vehicle while confronting the demonstrators.

According to the diocese's statement, “Father Dib lost control of himself and suddenly attacked the bishop in a violent way. As a result of this first attack, the chair on which the bishop was sitting broke. Those present tried to stop the fury of the priest who, despite everything, tried once again to attack the bishop who, thank God, could be covered by one of those present at the meeting, withdrawing from the office where he was " .

“When everything seemed to have calmed down”, the statement continues, “Father Camilo Dib was again furious and, uncontrolled, tried to attack once again the bishop who had retired to the diocesan dining room. Those present were able to prevent (P. Dib) from approaching the bishop and make things worse. At that moment, the parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Carmen of Malargue, Fr. Alejandro Casado, who accompanied the aggressor out of the diocesan house, took him to his vehicle, and finally retired. "

The diocese explained that the suspension of Fr. Dib from all his priestly duties is based on the 1370 code of the Code of Canon Law, which states that “A person who uses physical force against the Roman Pontiff incurs the latae sententiae excommunication reserved for the Apostolic See; if he is a cleric, another The penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state, can be added according to the gravity of the crime. Whoever does this against a bishop incurs the latae sententiae interdict and, if he is a cleric, also in latae sententiae suspension “.

The communiqué of the diocese concludes: "In the face of this painful situation, we invite everyone to receive the grace of the Nativity scene and before the Child God who looks at us, to seek a sincere spirit of conversion that brings the peace of the Lord to everyone".