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Priest Gets Life for 'Dirty War' Crimes

He shared parishioners' confessions with police

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 10, 2007 9:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – A former Roman Catholic priest  who delivered dozens of Argentines to the former military junta was sentenced to life in prison yesterday. Christian von Wernich, 69, passed his parishioners’ confessions to police during the so-called "Dirty War,"  leading to 7 murders, 42 abductions and 31 cases of torture, according to the BBC. Survivors say he watched torture sessions, absolving police of blame.

Crowds outside cheered, set off fireworks, and burned the priest in effigy, Britain's Times reports. “Justice has been done,” said one activist. “The Catholic Church was an accomplice.” The church, however, said von Wernich had sinned “against God, humanity, and his own conscience.” Von Wernich had likened his plight to Jesus’ trial and called his accusers possessed by the devil.

Former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich, center, is escorted by police officers as he enters the courtroom before the verdict was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under Argentina's dictatorship,...
Former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich, center, is escorted by police officers as he enters the courtroom before the verdict was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich, right, accompanied by his lawyer Marcelo Pena, reacts after the verdict was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under Argentina's dictatorship, was convicted and...
Former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich, right, accompanied by his lawyer Marcelo Pena, reacts after the verdict was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich...   (Associated Press)
Human right group Mother of Plaza de Mayo's activist reacts after the verdict about Argentinean former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich's crimes was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under...
Human right group Mother of Plaza de Mayo's activist reacts after the verdict about Argentinean former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich's crimes was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina,...   (Associated Press)
Mother of Plaza de Mayo's Delicia Cordoba, right, is embraced after the verdict about Argentinean former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich's crimes was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under...
Mother of Plaza de Mayo's Delicia Cordoba, right, is embraced after the verdict about Argentinean former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich's crimes was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina,...   (Associated Press)
Former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich reacts after the verdict was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under Argentina's dictatorship, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in a...
Former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich reacts after the verdict was pronounced in a trial in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged...   (Associated Press)
Human right activists, holding up headscarves with the image of missing witness Julio Lopez, celebrate the guilty verdict in the trial of former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed...
Human right activists, holding up headscarves with the image of missing witness Julio Lopez, celebrate the guilty verdict in the trial of former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich in La Plata, Argentina,...   (Associated Press)
Members of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group celebrates the guilty verdict in the trial of former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under Argentina's dictatorship, was...
Members of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group celebrates the guilty verdict in the trial of former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich...   (Associated Press)
Members of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group celebrates the guilty verdict in the trial of former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich is the first Roman Catholic priest to be charged for crimes committed under Argentina's dictatorship, was...
Members of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group celebrates the guilty verdict in the trial of former police chaplain Christian Von Wernich in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. Von Wernich...   (Associated Press)
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