Jorge Novak

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Roman Catholic Church
DioceseQuilmes
SeeQuilmes
Appointed7 August 1976
Term ended9 July 2001
PredecessorNone; diocese created
SuccessorLuis Teodorico Stöckler
Orders
Ordination10 January 1954
by Germiniano Esorto
Consecration19 September 1976
by Pio Laghi
Personal details
Born
Jorge Novak

(1928-03-04)4 March 1928
San Miguel Arcángel, Adolfo Alsina Partido, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Died9 July 2001(2001-07-09) (aged 73)
Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
MottoVen Espíritu Santo
Coat of armsJorge Novak's coat of arms

Jorge Novak,

Roman Catholic religious priest of the Society of the Divine Word who served as the Bishop of Quilmes from 1976 until his death.[1] He is best known for his staunch defense of human rights and critical statements regarding the position of the Church during the period of the Argentine dictatorship during the 1970s.[2][3][4] He was also known for his promotion of proper economic management when the nation's economic fortunes dwindled and promoted jobs and strong action for the poor and neglected.[1][5]

The cause for Novak's beatification started on 19 August 2017; he is titled now as a Servant of God.

Life

Jorge Novak was born on 4 March 1928 to Jorge Novak and Christina Prediger; he was of Volga German descent. He had seven brothers.[5]

Novak entered the

priesthood in 1954 in Bahía Blanca and in 1958 obtained a doctorate in historical sciences from the Pontifical Gregorian in Rome
.

In 1972 he became the provincial superior for the order and held that appointment until his elevation to the episcopate.

episcopal consecration on 19 September from Pio Laghi in the new diocese's Immaculate Conception cathedral.[5][1] There was initial apprehension surrounding his episcopal appointment due to strong rumors of his authoritative professorship in La Plata
.

Novak railed against

human rights abuses and criticized the dictatorship and the guerillas for their violence and carnage during the period of civil unrest and conflict. He pleaded for proper negotiations and peace in 1982 during the Falklands War.[1]
It was after the disappearances of 30,000 people became public that he served as a sort of 'spokesman' for their next of kin asking for investigations and closure for the families of those lost.

He co-founded the Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights alongside several others in February 1976. In September 1984 he was on a trip in

motor skills until 1985.[5]

Towards the end of his life he wrote to the government demanding greater action for the poor and often used strong language in order to force the point across. He was also seen leading demonstrations for jobs and organized

social teachings of the Church
.

On 28 April 1995 he issued a statement asking for forgiveness for the failure of the Argentine priesthood and episcopate to act during the 1970s when people were disappearing and being killed. Novak pleaded for forgiveness "for our insensitivities" while also referring to their collective "cowardice" and "omissions" which he affirmed made them complicit in the actions of the dictatorship.

economic crisis in which he asked: "How is it possible that in this day and age there are still people who die from hunger, condemned to illiteracy, and without a roof over their heads?"[1]

Novak had an operation for

apostolic nuncio (later cardinal) Santos Abril y Castelló; the people shouted "Viva el Padre Jorge" and "Viva Monsignor Novak" as his casket was carried out of the church.[5]

Beatification process

The cause commenced on 19 August 2017 after the

Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared "nihil obstat" (no objections) and titled Novak as a Servant of God
. The diocesan process is set to open on 11 December 2017.

From 24 June 2016 the postulator of the cause is the current Archbishop of Mendoza Marcelo Daniel Colombo.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Andrew Graham-Yooll (17 July 2001). "Bishop Jorge Novak". Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Argentina: No Peace in The Dirty War". TIME. 14 January 1991. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Argentine Bishop Calls Church Cowardly". The New York Times. 29 April 1995. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Argentine bishop addresses 'dirty war'". UPI. 28 April 1995. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e "News letter august 2017". Issuu. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Argentine Priest Gets OK to Enter Politics". Zenit. 12 December 2000. Retrieved 28 November 2017.

External links

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