Günther Zgubic

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Günther Zgubic (born October 17, 1949 in Pöls , Styria , Austria ) is an Austrian Roman Catholic theologian , diocesan priest of the Graz-Seckau diocese and human rights activist .

Life

After completing his school education and passing the final examination at the Academic Gymnasium in Graz in 1968, studied Zgubic in Graz theology and in 1975 by Bishop Johann Weber ordained. He worked as a chaplain in Bad Radkersburg (1976–1980) and in Weiz (1980–1988).

In 1988, according to his own words, he left the affluent society and went to Brazil to live there in solidarity in the diocese of Campo Limpo , near São Paulo . He founded a human rights center here and initiated a wide range of educational projects. With these projects he gave the approximately 10,000, mostly young, homeless people a new perspective on life. His commitment to AIDS patients and prostitutes is also worth mentioning . Through this work he came into contact with prisoners.

Since 1997 he has worked in prison chaplaincy . He decided to document the abuse and mistreatment of the inmates. By 2006, he reported more than 2000 cases to state and international authorities. At his instigation, the “Brazil Torture Report” was initiated and sent to the UN . During this time he networked his human rights activities internationally and founded “Christians against Torture, ACAT Brazil”. Together with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch , he is launching campaigns against torture in Brazilian prisons and police stations.

In November 2002 Zgubic was entrusted by the Brazilian Bishops' Conference with the overall management of the prison chaplaincy.

After twenty-two years in Brazil Zgubic returned in 2011 to Austria and goes to a recovery phase now back to his priestly work as Caritas - chaplain in the Diocese Graz-Seckau after. As his successor, Padre Valdir João Silveira was installed by the Brazilian Bishops' Conference.

Awards

In 2001 Zgubic received the Human Rights Prize of the State of Styria and in November 2005 the Archbishop Oscar Romero Prize from the Styrian Catholic Men's Movement at a human rights ball . In 2008 Zgubic was awarded the Brazilian Human Rights Prize.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Priest of the Damned in Logos - Theology and Life of Ö1 on February 11, 2006
  2. ^ Report by Amnesty International - Austria ( Memento of December 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ Back home after 22 years . Kleine Zeitung , February 24, 2011, archived from the original on October 19, 2013 .;
  4. ^ Human rights ball in the soap factory - Sunday paper for Styria
  5. ^ Press release of the Austrian Catholic Men's Movement from November 7, 2005
personal data
SURNAME Zgubic, Günther
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian priest
DATE OF BIRTH October 17, 1949
PLACE OF BIRTH Pöls , Styria, Austria