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 Juan Domingo Peron (1895-1974), president and dictator of Argentina, began to
lose power after the death of his wife Eva or Evita (1919-1952), who had a
strong political following among women, labor, and the poor. Many Argentines
were also upset by the deteriorating economy and increasing totalitarianism.
Fearing a growing Christian socialist movement, Peron turned against the Roman
Catholic Church, a former ally; priests were arrested for supposedly meddling in
labor unions, politics, and student organizations; clerical teachers were fired
from state-controlled schools and universities; the government stopped all
financial support of church educational institutions; and outdoor religious
celebrations were prohibited. Opposition to these severe measures increased, and
many government officials resigned in protest. Peron introduced bills to end
religious instruction in the schools and to tax church property. Catholics held
religious processions that turned into antigovernment demonstrations, which the
police ruthlessly suppressed. After a Corpus Christi celebration in June 1955,
two high-ranking bishops were deported. The Vatican retaliated by
excommunicating Peron (June 16, 1955), and that same day part of the navy and
air force staged an unsuccessful revolt in Buenos Aires, the capital.
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