Ivo Lorscheiter
Encyclopedia
Bishop José Ivo Lorscheiter (7 December 1927 - 5 March 2007) was a Brazil
ian clergyman in the Roman Catholic church. He was a bishop for over 38 years, from 1965 to his retirement in 2004. He was a leading proponent of liberation theology
, and denounced abuses of human rights
by the military regime that controlled Brazil in the anos de chumbo from 1964 to 1985.
Lorscheiter was born in São José do Hortêncio
, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
in the south of Brazil, one of seven brothers. His parents were the descendants of German immigrants. His surname was "Lorscheider", but it was recorded incorrectly when his birth was registered, and the incorrect "Lorscheiter" remained with him for the rest of his life.
He came from a religious family, and other relatives joined the church: Cardinal
Aloísio Lorscheider
is a cousin. He attended the local Catholic seminary
, at Gravataí
, from 1939 to 1945, and then studied philosophy at the seminary in São Leopoldo
from 1946 to 1948. He studied theology at the Salesian Pontifical University
from 1949 to 1953, from which he received a doctorate in 1956. He was ordained in Rome on 20 December 1952. He returned to Brazil to teach at the seminary in Gravataí, and was then director of the seminary in Viamão
. He also taught at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
.
Pope Paul VI
appointed him as auxiliary bishop
of Porto Alegre and titular bishop
of Tamadaon on 12 November 1965, the year after a military dictatorship took control of the country. He was officially ordained the following year: his cousin, Bishop Aloísio Lorscheider, was one of the principal co-consecrators.
Lorscheiter was involved in secret negotiations between the church and the military from 1970 to 1974, but also openly criticised the military regime. Hundreds of political opponents were imprisoned, tortured, or killed. He became known as "Dom Ivo" by his supporters.
Pope Paul VI
appointed him as Bishop of Santa Maria on 5 February 1974. He was secretary-general of the Brazilian bishops' conference from 1971 to 1979, and then president until 1987, following immediately after his cousin Aloísio Lorscheider each time. His espousal of liberation theology
put him in conflict with Vatican
authorities, particularly after Pope John Paul II
became Pope
.
He suffered from poor health, particularly in later life. He retired on 24 March 2004, becoming an emeritus bishop. He died in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul
in Brazil, after stomach surgery.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian clergyman in the Roman Catholic church. He was a bishop for over 38 years, from 1965 to his retirement in 2004. He was a leading proponent of liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
, and denounced abuses of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
by the military regime that controlled Brazil in the anos de chumbo from 1964 to 1985.
Lorscheiter was born in São José do Hortêncio
São José do Hortêncio
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
in the south of Brazil, one of seven brothers. His parents were the descendants of German immigrants. His surname was "Lorscheider", but it was recorded incorrectly when his birth was registered, and the incorrect "Lorscheiter" remained with him for the rest of his life.
He came from a religious family, and other relatives joined the church: Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Aloísio Lorscheider
Aloísio Lorscheider
Aloísio Leo Arlindo Lorscheider, O.F.M. was a prominent cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil during the 1970s and 1980s...
is a cousin. He attended the local Catholic seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, at Gravataí
Gravataí
Gravataí is a Brazilian city near Porto Alegre at the Rio Grande do Sul State...
, from 1939 to 1945, and then studied philosophy at the seminary in São Leopoldo
São Leopoldo
São Leopoldo is an important Brazilian industrial city located in the south state of Rio Grande do Sul. It occupies a total area of 103.9 km² at circa 30 km from the State Capital, Porto Alegre. Climate is sub-tropical, with temperatures varying from 2°C minimum at Winter to more than...
from 1946 to 1948. He studied theology at the Salesian Pontifical University
Salesian Pontifical University
The Salesian Pontifical University is a pontifical university in Italy run by the Salesian order...
from 1949 to 1953, from which he received a doctorate in 1956. He was ordained in Rome on 20 December 1952. He returned to Brazil to teach at the seminary in Gravataí, and was then director of the seminary in Viamão
Viamão
Viamão is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In size it is the largest municipality in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre and the seventh most populous in the state.The origin of the name Viamão is controversial...
. He also taught at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
The Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul is a private non-profit Catholic university, with three campuses, in the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre, Uruguaiana, and Viamão...
.
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed him as auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Porto Alegre and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Tamadaon on 12 November 1965, the year after a military dictatorship took control of the country. He was officially ordained the following year: his cousin, Bishop Aloísio Lorscheider, was one of the principal co-consecrators.
Lorscheiter was involved in secret negotiations between the church and the military from 1970 to 1974, but also openly criticised the military regime. Hundreds of political opponents were imprisoned, tortured, or killed. He became known as "Dom Ivo" by his supporters.
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed him as Bishop of Santa Maria on 5 February 1974. He was secretary-general of the Brazilian bishops' conference from 1971 to 1979, and then president until 1987, following immediately after his cousin Aloísio Lorscheider each time. His espousal of liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
put him in conflict with Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
authorities, particularly after Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
became Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
He suffered from poor health, particularly in later life. He retired on 24 March 2004, becoming an emeritus bishop. He died in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul
Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul
Santa Maria is a municipality in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. In 2007, its population was 263,403 inhabitants in a total area of 1,823 km2.-Importance:...
in Brazil, after stomach surgery.