Héctor Rubén Aguer is an Argentine Roman Catholic

Roman Catholicism in Argentina

The Catholic Church in Argentina is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the Curia in Rome, and the Argentine Episcopal Conference....

 bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

, currently the Archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 of the Archdiocese of La Plata

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of La Plata

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of La Plata is in Argentina and is a metropolitan diocese, responsible for the suffragan Dioceses of Azul, Chascomús, Mar del Plata, Nueve de Julio, Quilmes and Zárate-Campana...

, province of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Province

The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...

.

Early life and ordination

Aguer was born in Buenos Aires on 24 May 1943 ; he was a member of the parish Saint Mary Theresa Goretti; in the Maior Seminary he was a brilliant student; he received the degree of S.T. L. During his studies he worked to help Dr. Osvaldo D. Santagada(see Wikipedia) in the new ordination of the Theological Faculty Library; he helped also in the preparation of the famous number 14 of "Teologia" (the theological magazine of the Theological Faculty of the Catholic University of Argentina) dedicated to "Humanae Vitae" the Letter encyclical of Paul VI. He was ordained as a priest by cardinal Juan Carlos Aramburu, in Buenos Aires on 25 November 1972, at the age of 29. After the ordination and work in the parish Saint Pedro Gonzalez Telmo, he was appointed rector of the Maior Seminary of San Miguel (province of Buenos Aires). He was called several times by the General Secretary of the CELAM (Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano) to give his advice on matters doctrinal and spiritual about seminaries in Latin Amnerica (especially at the General meeting of rectors of seminaries in Quito, Ecuador, in 1984).

Bishop

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires on 26 February 1992; and ordained as a bishop by the late cardinal Antonio Quarracino on April 4, 1992. In 1998, on 26 June, he was appointed Archbishop Coadjutor of La Plata, and took possession of the see on 8 September 1998. He became the VII Archbishop of La PLata on 12 June 2000. The archdiocese has 4.562 km2, 763115 inhabitants, 85% Catholic; 64 parishes, 105 chapels, 102 secular priests, 39 regular priests, 264 religious women; and 90 Catholic schools. Archbishop Aguer is now the Metropolitan of seven dioceses: Azul, Chascomus, Mar del PLata, Nueve de Julio, Quilmes, and Zarate-Campana. Archbishop Aguer is a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (CAL); member of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Goods of the Church; member of the International Council for Cathechese; member of the Pontifical Roman Academy Saint Thomas Aquinas; he is the Prior in Argentina of the Holy Sepulcher Order; the Chaplain of the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta. Archbishop Aguer is the president of the Commission of Catholic Education in the Episcopal Conference of Argentina.

Pablo Gazzarri

According to father Eduardo De la Serna, Aguer is responsible for turning father Pablo Gazzarri

Pablo Gazzarri

Father Pablo Gazzarri was an ordained priest who worked in the Parish of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Villa Urquiza who was abducted on November 27, 1976; being the fifth anniversary of his ordination. He was tortured and killed by his abductors.Father Gazzarri had an intense political commitment...

 into the military authorities in 1976, during the National Reorganization Process

National Reorganization Process

The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...

. Gazzarri was sent to the detention center of the ESMA

ESMA

The Navy Petty-Officers School of Mechanics , commonly referred to by its abbreviation ESMA, is a facility of the Argentine Navy that was employed as an illegal detention center during the dictatorial rule of the National Reorganization Process...

 and killed.

Secularization of Argentine society

Aguer is considered a representative of the conservative

Conservatism

Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...

 sector of the Argentine Church. In homilies and episcopal documents, he has harshly criticized the proposed legalization of abortion

Abortion

Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...

 in Argentina, some government-sponsored sex education

Sex education

Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...

 plans and contraception

Contraception

Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...

 campaigns, the secularization

Secularization

Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...

 of culture, the idea of abolishing the requirement of clerical celibacy

Clerical celibacy

Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...

, the alleged persecution and discrimination of Christians in modern society, the prevailing consumerism

Consumerism

Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...

, the "rock culture

Social effects of rock and roll

The popularity and worldwide scope of rock music resulted in a powerful impact on society. Rock and roll influenced daily life, fashion, attitudes and language in a way few other social developments have equalled. As the original generations of rock and roll fans matured, the music became an...

", etc.