Paulo Evaristo Arns

Infobox cardinalbiog

|
name = Paulo Arns O.F.M.


See = São Paulo (Emeritus)
Title = Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo
Period = October 22, 1970—April 15, 1998
cardinal = March 5, 1973
Predecessor = Agnelo Rossi
Successor = Cláudio Hummes
post = Professor | date of birth = birth date|1921|9|14|mf=y
date of death =
place of birth = Forquilhinha, Santa Catarina, Brazil

infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=Paulo Evaristo Arns
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
See=São Paulo (emeritus)|

Paulo Evaristo Arns O.F.M. (born September 14 1921 in Forquilhinha) is the Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo.

Early life and education

Paulo Arns was born as the fifth of thirteen children of the German immigrants Gabriel and Helana Arns. Three of his sisters would later become nuns and one of his brothers a Franciscan.

On December 10, 1943, at the age of 18, Arns joined the Franciscans; he was ordained a priest on November 30 1945.

From 1941 to 1943 Arns studied philosophy in Curitiba and then theology from 1944 to 1947 in Petrópolis. Then he attended the Sorbonne in Paris studying literature, Latin, Greek, and ancient history, he graduated with a doctorate in classical languages in 1946. Arns later returned to the Sorbonne to study for a D.Litt., he obtained his doctorate in 1950 for a dissertation written about Saint Jerome. [Catholic Pages. [http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=22 Biography of Dr Arns.] ]

Prior to his episcopal consecration Arns carried out various educational roles in a number of institutions throughout Brazil. He spent a significant amount of time serving as a professor at the seminary of Agudos in São Paulo, lecturing on the faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters of Bauru furthermore, he had responsibilities at a number of other higher education institutes (normally being sat on the faculty), finally becoming a professor at the Catholic University of Petropolis, this being the last academic office he held before becoming a bishop.

Dr Arns had also been elected to the vice-provincial of the province of the Immaculate Conception of the Friars Minor. He was the director of the monthly review for religious Sponsa Christi. [Holy See Press Office and Archives. [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_arns_pe_en.html Vatican biography of Dr Arns.] ]

Time as bishop

On May 2, 1966, Arns was consecrated titular bishop of Respetta and then appointed to archbishop of São Paulo on October 22 1970. In the consistory on March 5 1973, Pope Paul VI made him a Cardinal-Priest of "Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana". As Archbishop he sold the Pius XII episcopal palace, a mansion standing in its own park. Two things horrified him", one was the massive electricity bills, and the other was the staff - 25 sisters and brothers all to look after one man. Indeed, at the beginning of his term as archbishop he decided to take the unprecedented step and sell the Episcopal Palace, using the money to build a social station in the favelas.

Arns swiftly earned respect within Brazil because of his unwillingness to remain silent about his contempt for the dictatorship. Arns is known as a liberation theologian and became one of the most popular clergymen of Brazil because of his tireless campaigning for human rights. [OFM News. [http://www.ofm.org/01eng/news/0909NeO71.html The 80th Birthday of Paulo Evaristo Cardinal Arns] 29 April, 2002] Arns himself led many direct campaigns against the dictatorship in Brazil. Shortly after taking office he learnt that a young priest had been arrested and detained after his home was raided by secret police, the priest being arrested for having possession of documentation encouraging rebellion, Arns wrote to the Governor of São Paulo, then when he was denied entrance to the prison holding the detainee Arns used the Archdiocese's radio service and newspaper to denounce the events, also choosing to have a description of the arrest and torture nailed to the door of every church. One reporter for the National Catholic Reporter described the occurrence as the beginning of “an open war between the archdiocese and the military.” [National Catholic Reporter. [http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives/022803/022803m.htm Dom Paulo: a voice for human rights] 28 February, 2003]

This event marked the beginning of Arns' campaigns against the use of torture, following this debacle Arns pursued the topic to the extent of forcing the Brazilian conference of bishops to make it a priority. Speaking out on the matter frequently, the New York Times described Arns' analysis of the affairs as "the strongest, most courageous affirmation ever made by a Brazilian prelate against the torture of prisoners". Arns had managed the project "Tortura Nunca Mais" (Never Again Torture) at the end of the 70s.

Arns himself cannot be dismissed as a significant cause of the military withdrawal and return of civilian government in Brazil. During the dictatorship he visited political prisoners speaking out against the abuses of the military. Prior to governmental change in 1985, Arns had, with the assistance of the Presbyterian minister Jaime Wright, photocopied the military government's records on torture, and then smuggled the copies out to have them published, the book "Brazil Never Again" which was based on this evidence became a bestseller and began the widespread move for change in Brazil.

Dr Arns had always encouraged a preferential option for the oppressed and poor within a society, encouraging religious orders in São Paulo to transfer their energies from middle class schools and hospitals in central areas of the city to the millions of marginalised people living on the periphery. It is this passion for the marginalised, perhaps even his lack of concern for other matters, that has caused Arns to receive bitter criticism from some Catholics, and having to an extent split the opinion of bishops in Brazil.

Testament to his commitment to the wellbeing of the impoverished, and also an example of an occasion when Arns had divided the Bishops Conference, Cardinal Arns has told the impoverished majorities of Brazil that on Ash Wednesday, "if they can find meat to eat, which is rare, they should eat it, and do some good work to mark the day, because not eating meat is not the point" He defended his position by saying that "Canon law gives me full power to dispense people from abstinence; there is no problem".

Controversy

Having garnered a reputation for being one of the more liberal of Cardinals and bishops within the hierarchy of the church, Arns frequently expressed viewpoints that did not necessarily cohere with the official position of the church. In 2002 he became one of the highest ranking members of the church to have publicly expressed disagreement with the church position of clerical celibacy, claiming that it was an unnecessary rule without biblical basis. Arns went further then to criticise Pope John Paul II for having prohibited a proper debate on the matter. [BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1957030.stm Brazil cardinal questions celibacy] 29 April, 2002]

Toward the end of his time as Archbishop of São Paulo Arns gained notoriety due to his criticism of the hierarchy and governance of the Vatican, notably the leadership style of Pope John Paul II. Arns has expressed his shock at the behaviour of the Vatican in attempting to control the activities of priests and remove those who do not act in the appropriate manner. Notably Arns defended the liberation theologian and former Catholic priest Professor Leonardo Boff, producing letters from the Roman Curia which he believes to evidence the fact that Boff was treated unfairly.

Later Arns came to state that he feels the Roman Curia holds too much influence and should not have been given a "free rein" by the pope. Arns criticised the Curia for not promoting diversity of opinion within the church, and for lacking an ecumenical attitude. [Open Democracy. [http://www.opendemocracy.net/faith-catholicchurch/article_2406.jsp Cardinal Arns of Brazil on Pope John Paul II, the Vatican and the poor] 5 April, 2005] Arns, with Archbishop John Quinn of San Francisco criticised the bureaucracy of the church, stating that his impression is that "the curia is governing the church", further, that he 'strongly disagreed' with the Pope's understanding that "the curia is the pope".

Another matter that Arns was critical of was the division of the Archdiocese of São Paulo. Arns felt that the manner in which his plan had been executed had ensured its failure, remarking on the event that "everything I asked for was disregarded and the traditionalist line prevailed. It was our wish that a different way of dealing with pastoral activities in the metropolitan regions be adopted, but the Roman curia, treating this just as any other matter, paid no heed for it... because of the way it was done, the church in São Paulo is spending 10 times more in order to produce results which are 10 times smaller". [National Catholic Reporter. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n43_v32/ai_18777581 Cardinal Arns says pope gives his curia free rein] 11 October, 1996]

Arns failed to shy away from controversy relating to his perceived left wing politics. In 1989 he angered many, primarily conservatives, because of his praise of the Cuban President Fidel Castro. Writing on the 30th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, Arns addressed his letter to "dearest Fidel", informing Castro that he is "present daily in my prayers" and that he [Arns] "ask [s] the Father that he always concede you the grace of guiding the destinies of your country". Arns also articulated his wish that Castro always govern over Cuba. Provoking fierce reaction, Arns was subject to criticism from the conservative publications of Brazil's media, and numerous bishops, including Eugenio Sales of Rio de Janeiro, the most prominent conservative ordinary in the Brazilian church. However, Arns was in turn defended by his admirers, notably Professor Leonardo Boff. [The New York Times. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3D81F31F936A35751C0A96F948260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FOrganizations%2FR%2FRoman%20Catholic%20Church%20 Brazil Cardinal's Praise of Castro Stirs Protest] 5 February, 1989]

Arns has also expressed political opinion in criticising the President of the United States, George W. Bush. Condemning the interventionist foreign policy of the Bush administration, Arns expressed his wish that "a peaceful way" could be pursued by the United States. [National Catholic Reporter. [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-84970276.html?Q=Cardinal%20Arns Brazil cardinal recalls battles with curia] 4 May, 2002]

Retirement

Dr Arns retired at the age of almost 77 on April 15 1998, becoming Archbishop Emeritus, after he had already sought and received the right to retire from Pope John Paul II on the his 75th birthday in 1996. He did not take part in the 2005 conclave because he had already passed the age limit of 80 years.

Following his retirement Arns has sat as UNESCO's Chair for Peace Education, Human Rights, Democracy and Tolerance at the State University of São Paulo, returing to the educational role he left behind upon taking epsicopal office.

Awards

*Nansen Refugee Award (1985)
*Niwano Peace Prize (1995)

Written works

*"A quem iremos, Senhor?" - To Whom Shall We Go, Lord?
*"A humanidade caminha para a fraternidade" - Humanity on the Road toward Fraternity
*"Paul VI: voce é contra ou a favor?" - Paul VI: Are you for or against?
*"Cartes de Santo Inhàcio: Introdução, Tradução e Notas" - Letters of Saint Ignatius: Introduction, Translation, and Notes
*"Cartas de São Clemente Romano: Introdução, Tradução e Notas" - Letters of St. Clement of Rome: Introduction, Translation, and Notes
*"A guerra acabrà se vocé quiser" - Wars Will End If You Want
*"Communidade: união e acção" - Community: Union and Action
*"Da Esperanca a Utopia" - The Hope of Utopia (Autobiography)

Translated

*"A Corresponsabilidade na Igreja de hoje" - The Coresponsibility of the Church today - Cardinal Suenens
*"Nova Historia da Igreia" - A New History of the Church - Cardinal Danielou.

Honorary degrees

*Universidade Brasil
*Universidade Católica de Goiás

References

Persondata
NAME=Arns, Paulo Evaristo
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Brazilian archbishop, cardinal and theologian
DATE OF BIRTH=December 14, 1921
PLACE OF BIRTH=Forquilhinha, Brazil