Padre François Jacques Jentel
Ditadura Militar | Brasil | CNBB
Cabo eletrônico Kissinger, filtrado da Livraria Pública da Diplomacia dos EE UU, arquivo da Organização Wikileaks, datado em 18,12.1975, classificado como Confidencial, mostra que a CNBB (Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil), por assim dizer, a igreja brasileira, cooperou de forma conservadora, para não dizer subserviente, com a ditadura militar instalada no país em 1964. O Cabo trata da expulsão do padre francês François Jacques Jentel do Brasil, pela Ditadura Militar, em 1975, no Governo Geisel. A ordem de expulsão havia sido preparado em 1974, mas não foi assinada pelo presidente a pedido das autoridades eclesiásticas (porém a versão mais aceita é que o embaixador francês interviu em favor do padre). Dessa forma, o religioso foi autorizado a deixar o país por vontade própria, mas com a condição de que não retornaria mais ao Brasil. Em 1975, o padre Jentel voltou ao Brasil e foi sequestrado pelo aparato repressor da ditadura Geisel:
"AFTER A BRIEF VISIT TO GOIAS, HE WENT TO FORTALEZA TO VISIT DOM ALOISIO LORSCHEIDER, ARCHBISHOP OF THAT CITY AND PRESIDENT OF THE CNBB.THE MORNING OF DEC 12, NOT FAR FROM THE ARCHBISHOP'S DOOR, JEANTEL WAS GRABBED BY FOUR MEN IN PLAIN CLOTHES WHO IMMOBILIZED HIM BY BLOWS TO THE HEAD AND GROIN AND DROVE OFF WITH HIM IN AN UNMARKED CAR.
Num primeiro momento a CNBB negou que tivesse acordado com as autoridades militares a saída de Jentel e a proibição de sua volta ao Brasil. Mas em uma declaração, posterior, a cúpula da igreja católica, admitiu que sabia do teor documento elaborado em 1974, que tratava da expulsão. A polícia Federal declarou que distribui impressos para seus escritórios em diversos estados, afirmando que a "IGREJA" havia concordado que Jentel não poderia voltar ao Brasil. Fica claro que alta hierarquia da CNBB não só sabia do documento da expulsão, mas também havia feito um acordo implícito com a ditadura brasileira:
"WE ARE CONVINCED PRESIDENT GEISEL HAS GOOD INTENTIONS TOWARD THE CHURCH. HOWEVER, SO LONG AS THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DEAL WITH THE CHURCH THROUGH JUSTICE MINISTER FALCAO, WE WILL KNOW THAT PRESIDENT GEISEL HAS NOT MANAGED TO ASSERT HIMSELF."
Na sua estada no Brasil, Padre Jentel, ajudou pequenos proprietários de terra a defender suas propriedades contra os latifundiários e o agronegócio, que eram apoiados pela ditadura militar. O religioso, François Jaques Jentel, também denunciou o trabalho escravo nas grandes propriedades rurais, parcialmente financiadas pelo governo, mas a gota da água para sua expulsão foi a acusação de incitar pequenos proprietários a revoltarem-se, com o uso de armas, contra autoridades (o que depois foi desmentido). Esses fatos o levaram a condenação pelo tribunal militar. Foi condenado a dez anos de prisão, mas um ano mais tarde teve revogada sua prisão pelos militares e encaminhado para a Justiça Civil, por não se enquadrar na Lei de Segurança Nacional. Nos tribunais comuns nunca foi levado a julgamento. O Padre Jentel finalmente foi expulso para França, morrendo pouco tempo mais tarde em sua pátria, longe da Conservadora e Reacionária Cúpula da Igreja Católica Brasileira.
Presidentes da Ditadura Militar no Brasil
| CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS - EXPULSION OF FATHER JENTEL | |
1975 December 18, 13:45 (Thursday) | 1975BRASIL10809_b |
CONFIDENTIAL | UNCLASSIFIED |
-- N/A or Blank -- | 8232 |
GS | TEXT ON MICROFILM,TEXT ONLINE |
-- N/A or Blank -- | TE |
-- N/A or Blank -- ACTION ARA - Bureau of Inter-American Affairs | Electronic Telegrams |
Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006 | |
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MAY 1974
FOLLOWING WAS RECEIVED FROM CONGEN RIO DE JANEIRO:
QUOTE
1. SUMMARY. EXPULSION OF FRENCH PRIEST ON DEC 16 HAS CONVINCED
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BRAZILIAN BISHOPS (CNBB) THAT HARD-LINE
IS IN THE ASCENDENCY IN TERMS OF CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS AND THAT
INCIDENT FITS INTO GENERALLY HOSTILE ATTITUDE BY HARD-LINE TOWARD
LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE BRAZILIAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY AND CNBB
MANIFESTED IN RECENT MONTHS BY DEFAMATORY LETTER CAMPAIGNS.
BY ARRESTING AND FORMALLY EXPELLING PRIEST, GEISEL GOVERNMENT HAS
REVIVED CAUSE CELEBRE IN CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS WHICH IT INHERITED
FROM MEDICI AND WHICH IT HAD ADROITLY MANAGED TO PUT TO REST IN
1974. END SUMMARY.
2. ACCORDING VICE SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
BRAZILIAN BISHOPS (CNBB), FRENCH PRIEST FRANCOIS JACQUES JENTEL
DEPARTED BRAZIL MORNING DEC 16, 1975 PURSUANT EXPULSION ORDER
SIGNED BY PRESIDENT GEISEL DEC 15. ACCORDING TO JUSTICE MIN
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PAGE 02 BRASIL 10809 181626Z
STATEMENT ISSUED DEC 15, EXPULSION ORDER HAD BEEN PREPARED IN
1974 BUT WAS NOT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BECAUSE, AT THE REQUEST
OF CHURCH AUTHORITIES, JENTEL WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
OF HIS OWN VOLITION ON THE UNDERSTANDING HE WOULD NOT RETURN
TO BRAZIL.
3. CNBB ISSUED ITS OWN STATEMENT EVENING DEC 15 EXPLAINING:
JUDICIAL STATE OF PLAY REGARDING CHARGES AGAINST JENTEL; HIS
DEPARTURE FROM BRAZIL; HIS RECENT RETURN, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF HIS ARREST. CNBB STATEMENT ALSO CATIGORICALLY DENIED THAT IT
KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEAL (MENTIONED IN THE JUSTICE MIN
STATEMENT) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES
TO THE EFFECT THAT JENTEL LEFT BRAZIL VOLUNTARILY IN 1974
PROVIDED HE DID NOT RETURN. IN ITS STATEMENT CNBB ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT SUBSEQUENT TO JENTEL'S DEPARTURE IN 1974, FEDERAL POLICE
(DPF) PRINTED NOTICES WHICH IT DISTRIBUTED TO ITS OFFICES IN
VARIOUS STATES STATING CHURCH HAD AGREED JENTEL COULD NOT REENTER
BRAZIL. CNBB ARGUES IT NEVER TOOK OFFICIAL NOTE OF THE DPF NOTICE.
4. CNBB VICE SEC GEN, FATHER VIRGILIO UCHOA, SAID JENTEL'S
RETURN TO BRAZIL WAS HIS OWN IDEA. CNBB NEITHER ENCOURAGED NOR
DISCOURAGED HIM. AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL MONTHS WITH HIS MOTHER
IN FRANCE, JENTEL VISITED A BROTHER WHO LIVES IN US. DEPARTING
MIAMI, HE ENTERED COUNTRY AT BRASILIA AS A TOURIST ON DEC 1 (HIS
PERMANENT VISA IS ALSO STILL IN ORDER). AFTER A BRIEF VISIT TO
GOIAS, HE WENT TO FORTALEZA TO VISIT DOM ALOISIO LORSCHEIDER,
ARCHBISHOP OF THAT CITY AND PRESIDENT OF THE CNBB. THE MORNING
OF DEC 12, NOT FAR FROM THE ARCHBISHOP'S DOOR, JENTEL WAS
GRABBED BY FOUR MEN IN PLAIN CLOTHES WHO IMMOBILIZED HIM BY
BLOWS TO THE HEAD AND GROIN AND DROVE OFF WITH HIM IN AN UNMARKED
CAR. KNOWING OF THE DPF CIRCULAR, DOM ALOISIO CONCLUDED HE HAD
BEEN SEIZED BY FEDERAL POLICE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE SEIZURE,
TWO DPF AGENTS KNOCKED AT THE ARCHBISHOP'S DOOR AND ASKED FOR
JENTEL. WHEN TOLD THAT POLICE ALREADY HAD HIM, THE TWO DPF MEN
EXPRESSED SURPRISE AND LEFT. LATER THAT MORNING, ARCHBISHOP
LOCATED JENTEL AT DPF HQ. CNBB BELIEVES VISIT BY TWO DPF AGENTS
INTENDED TO GIVE VENEER OF LEGALITY TO EARLIER ILLEGAL SEIZURE
OF JENTEL. FLOWN TO RIO DE JANEIRO THE EVENING OF DEC 12,
JENTEL SPENT THE WEEKEND UNDER DETENTION AT A NAVAL INSTALLATON.
THE CNBB LEARNED THAT PRESIDENT GEISEL HAD SIGNED THE EXPULSION
ORDER THROUGH A TELEPHONE CALL THE AFTERNOON OF DEC 15 FROM THE
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PAGE 03 BRASIL 10809 181626Z
JUSTICE MIN FALCAO TO RIO DE JANEIRO'S CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP DOM
EUGENIO SALLES.
5. FATHER JENTEL WAS A PARISH PRIEST AT SANTA TERESINHA NEAR THE
URUGUAIA RIVER IN MATO GROSSO WHO HELPED POSSEIROS TO DEFEND
THEIR SMALL LAND HOLDINGS AND ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS AGAINST LARGE
LANDFOWNERS AND LAND OWNING FIRMS. HE ALSO EXPOSED A FARM IN
THE AREA THAT HAD SLAVE LABOR. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE
FED GOVT DISCLOSED TO ITS EMBARRASSMENT THAT THE SLAVE FARM WAS
PARTIALLY FINANCED WITH FEDERAL MONIES. IN 1972 THE LOCAL POPULACE
OF SANTA TERESINHA FOUGHT A GUN BATTLE WITH THE AUTHORITIES.
FATHER JENTEL WAS ACCUSED OF HAVING INCITED THEM TO THIS AND,
IN MAY 1973, WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN MILITARY PRISON ON
THAT CHARGE. IN 1974 THE SUPREME MILITARY TRIBUNAL QUASHED THE
SENTENCE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE CHARGES WERE NOT VIOLATIONS OF
THE NATIONAL SECURITY LAW AND THEREFORE THEIR PROPER VENUE WAS
THE CIVILIAN COURTS. AN EXPULSION ORDER WAS PREPARED FOR PRESI-
DENT GEISEL'S SIGNATURE BUT WAS NOT SIGNED. REPORTEDLY, AT THE
REQUEST OF THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR AND THE PAPAL NUNCIO, JENTEL
WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE BRAZIL VOLUNTARILY. THE CASE AGAINST HIM
IN THE CIVILIAN COURTS HAS NEVER BEEN BROUGHT TO TRIAL.
6. IN CONTRAST TO THE FIRM TONE OF THE CNBB'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS
ABOUT JENTEL, MEDIUM LEVEL OFFICIALS OF THE CNBB INTERNALLY
FEEL OUTRAGED, AGGRIEVED AND DOUBLE-CROSSED. THE CNBB VICE SEC
GEN STATED THAT IN HIS VIEW, JENTEL'S ARREST DEMONSTRATES THAT
IN TERMS OF CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS, THE HARD-LINE IS IN THE
ASCENDENCY. "WE ARE CONVINCED PRESIDENT GEISEL HAS GOOD INTENTIONS
TOWARD THE CHURCH. HOWEVER, SO LONG AS THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES
TO DEAL WITH THE CHURCH THROUGH JUSTICE MINISTER FALCAO, WE
WILL KNOW THAT PRESIDENT GEISEL HAS NOT MANAGED TO ASSERT HIMSELF."
"AT LEAST NOW WE KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE AND THAT IS A
NET GAIN." "THE CHURCH IS WILLING TO ESTABLISH DIALOG WITH ANYONE
ACTING IN GOOD FAITH. THIS IS WHAT IT GETS FOR ITS PAINS." CNBB
VICE SECGEN BELIEVES THIS INCIDENT IS ONE MORE MANIFESTATION
OF HOSTILITY ON THE PART OF HARD-LINE ELEMENTS TOWARD POLITICALLY
LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HIERARCHY AND SPECIFICALLY AGAINST
THE CNBB. IN RECENT MONTHS HE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF
DEFAMATORY LETTERS DISTRIBUTED ABOUT CERTAIN CHURCH LEADERS SUCH
AS CNBB SECGEN DOM IVO LORSCHEITER AND SAO PAULO'S CARDINAL
ARCHBISHOP DOM PAULO EVARISTO ARNS. HE SAID THAT AFTER THE DEATH
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PAGE 04 BRASIL 10809 181626Z
OF JOURNALIST HERZOG IN SAO PAULO THE BISHOPS OF SAO PAULO ISSUED
A STATEMENT CONDEMNING ARRESTS AND VIOLENCE (MENTIONED IN THE
PRESS ON OCT 30). HE SAID THE SECURITY SERVICES HAD APPARENTLY
PREPARED A "BLACK" LETTER IN REPLY TO THE BISHOPS' STATEMENT
WHICH WAS MAILED TO CATHOLICS IN NOVEMBER. ENTITLED "DON'T KID
YOURSELF, BROTHER" (NAO TE ENGANES, IRMAO), IT IS A TAKEOFF ON
THE BISHOPS' STATEMENT AND SUGGESTS THAT MANY IN THE CHURCH
ARE LEFTISTS. HE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO CITE A DECISION TAKEN
ON DEC 15 BY THE SUPREME COURT (STF) CONFIRMING THE SIX MONTH
SENTENCE OF A PRIEST FOUND GUILTY OF WAGING "ADVERSE PSYCHOLOGICAL
WARFARE" IN 1969 AS A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE HARD-
LINE. UNQUOTE
COMMENT: IN EMBASSY VIEW, EXPULSION OF FATHER JENTEL WAS
INEVITABLE ONCE HE RE-ENTERED BRAZIL, AS THE GOVERNMENT QUITE
CLEARLY BELIEVED THAT IT HAD A DEAL AND THAT THE OTHER PARTY
RENEGED. WE THEREFORE CONSIDER IT NO INDICATION OF CURRENT
HARD-LINE STRENGTH, THOUGH WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW CNBB MIGHT SEE
IT AS SUCH IN LIGHT OF CURRENT LEVEL OF SUSPICIONS BETWEEN
PRINCIPAL ACTORS IN CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIP. IT IS POSSIBLE
AND APPEARS LIKELY, HOWEVER, THAT NOT ALL THOSE INTERESTED
IN THE CASE WERE INFORMED OF THE DEAL, ANDINDEED JENTEL'S
ACTION IN RETURNING SEEMS INCREDIBLY IMPRUDENT AND
EVEN FOOLHARDY IF DONE IN CONSCIOUS DEFIANCE OF A DEAL. WHATEVER
THE FACTS (AND SOME BREAK-DOWN IN COMMUNICATION QUITE OBVIOUSLY
OCCURRED), THE REACTION AT THE MIDDLE LEVELS OF THE CNBB IS
IMPORTANT IN ITSELF AND IPSO FACTO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT
CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS. AS FOR THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, THE
VIGOR AND RAPIDITY OF ITS HANDLING OF THE MATTER SUGGESTS
THAT IT TOO, AT LEAST AT SOME LEVELS, FEELS IT WAS PROVOKED.
END COMMENT.
CRIMMINS
CONFIDENTIAL
NNN
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| 1976RIODE A-34 |
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| DEVELOPMENTS IN FATHER JENTEL CASE | |
1974 April 22, 14:18 (Monday) | 1974BRASIL02707_b |
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE | UNCLASSIFIED |
-- N/A or Blank -- | 2307 |
-- N/A or Blank -- | TEXT ON MICROFILM,TEXT ONLINE |
-- N/A or Blank -- | TE |
-- N/A or Blank -- ACTION ARA - Bureau of Inter-American Affairs | Electronic Telegrams |
Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005 | |
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1. FRENCH MISSIONARY FATHER FRANCISCO JENTEL, WHO WAS
ACCUSED OF LEADING THE SQUATTERS OF SANTA TEREZINHA,
MATTO GROSSO, IN A GUN BATTLE AGAINST LOCAL AUTHORITIES
DURING MARCH 1972, WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON
BY A MILITARY COURT IN MAY 1973. JENTEL'S LAWYERS
APPEALED THE CASE BEFORE THE SUPERIOR MILITARY TRIBUNAL.
ACCORDING TO SOURCES IN BRASILIA, THE TRIBUNAL HAS
COMPLETED ITS DELIBERATIONS AND WILL SHORTLY ANNOUNCE
ITS DECISION. ACCORDING TO ONE SOURCE, THE TRIBUNAL
WILL ACQUIT JENTEL, BUT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE WILL
THEN BEGIN PROCEEDINGS FOR HIS EXPULSION FROM BRAZIL;
ANOTHER SOURCE HOLDS THAT THE TRIBUNAL WILL DECLARE ITSELF
INCOMPETENT TO HEAR THE CASE AND REMAND JENTEL TO THE
CIVIL COURTS FOR RETRIAL.
2. COMMENT: JENTEL HAS ENJOYED FIRM SUPPORT FROM CHURCH
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 02 BRASIL 02707 221439Z
LEADERS IN BRAZIL, INCLUDING SAO PAULO'S CARDINAL ARNS AND
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS. IF
JENTEL IS EXPELLED FROM BRAZIL, THE PROSPECTS FOR CHURCH-
STATE RAPPROCHEMENT WILL BE DAMAGED, THOUGH NOT SERIOUSLY
SO, SINCE HIS ACQUITTAL WOULD BE SEEN AS A PARTIAL VINDI-
CATION, AND SINCE THE CASE CAN BE REGARDED AS HAVING ITS
ROOTS IN THE MEDICI REGIME. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, JENTEL
IS REMANDED TO TRIAL BEFORE THE CIVIL JUDICIARY, AS THE
CHURCH LEADERSHIP HAD REQUESTED IN THE FIRST INSTANCE,
THAT ACTION WILL BE SEEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE SINCERITY
OF THE GEISEL GOVERNMENT'S EXPRESSED DESIRE TO PUT CHURCH-
STATE RELATIONSHIPS ON A NEW FOOTING, AND, IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE CIVIL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST DEPUTY FRANCISCO
PINTO (REFTEL, AN INDICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE
TO LIMIT ITS USE OF "EXCEPTIONAL" POWERS LIKE INSTITUTIONAL
ACT NO 5.
CRIMMINS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
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