Bishop, one of the most outspoken during Brazil's dictatorship, dies

Published: 2007-03-07

SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) -- Bishop Jose Ivo Lorscheiter, the retired bishop of Santa Maria, Brazil, and one of the most outspoken bishops in Brazil during the country's military regime, died at the age of 79. Bishop Lorscheiter, who was buried March 6 in Santa Maria, where he died the day before of multiple organ failure, was part of a group of clergy who took the lead in combating the 1964-1985 Brazilian military regime. He became the auxiliary bishop of Port Alegre in 1966. Five years later he became secretary-general of the bishops' conference, a post he held from 1971 to 1979. He was president of the Brazilian bishops' conference from 1979 to 1987.

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