SANTIAGO, Chile (CWN) - Chilean government officials expressed anger on Monday after Cardinal-designate Jorge Medina Estevez was quoted as supporting former dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet's claim to a seat as Senator-for-life.

      Archbishop Medina, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and former archbishop of Valparaiso, Chile, was quoted by Radio Cooperativa as saying the constitution written by the 1973-90 Pinochet regime grants the general a Senate seat for life and must then be respected.

      Angry over Archbishop Medina's comments, Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Insulza said he didn't think the archbishop, as a member of the Church hierarchy, should issue political opinions.

January 21, 1998 volume 9, no. 15          DAILY CATHOLIC