BUENOS AIRES, April 26 (UPI) -- A Catholic priest is facing 19 counts of murder and 33 of abduction and torture while assisting Argentina's former dictators, the New York Times reports.
The Rev. Christian von Wernich returned to Argentina last May to face charges he allegedly collaborated with military leaders during the 1976-83 Argentine dictatorship known as the "Dirty War."
An estimated 30,000 disappeared during that period, while thousands more were subjected to torture and imprisonment for being perceived as enemies of the state. Argentine President Nestor Kirchner has made cracking down on former military leaders and allies to the dictatorship a priority since he assumed office last year.
Von Wernich has been living in Chile where he led a parish under a different name. The 65-year-old priest was indicted in September and is fighting the charges on both constitutional and religious grounds, the Times said.
