Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, February 13, 2009
A Call for Canonization Sparks Debate in the Dominican Republic
A proposal to canonize former President Joaquín Balaguer triggers an ironic critique of the nation’s veneration of its leaders.
Key Takeaways
- A Dominican political group proposed the canonization of former President Joaquín Balaguer.
- The proposal, made in 2009, was met with widespread public disapproval.
- One critic responded with an ironic article questioning the intellect behind such a suggestion.
- The article highlights the stark contrast between public veneration and historical accountability.
Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo, born in Navarrete, Santiago province, on September 1, 1906, and who died in Santo Domingo on July 14, 2002, lived nearly 96 years. Following his death, an outpouring of apologies and praise honored his memory, leading some to jokingly suggest his sanctification.
Did you know? Seven years after his passing, in 2009, a proposal for Balaguer’s beatification was formally made to Pope Benedict XVI by the president of the Historical Balaguerismo political movement.
This audacious proposal generated such significant negative sentiment within Dominican society that it prompted an ironic response. An article, published in a Santiago newspaper on February 13, 2009, utilized a humorous tone to address what was perceived as an absurd suggestion.
The Irony of Canonizing Balaguer
The author of the satirical piece confessed to being unaware of the existence of Dr. Alberto Gautreaux, who was described as an entity of “immeasurable wisdom” and a leading intellect in the Caribbean. The writer sarcastically expressed ignorance regarding Gautreaux’s brilliance, suggesting his intellect surpassed that of Albert Einstein.
The article then cited a news report from February 2, 2009, detailing the request for Balaguer’s beatification. According to the report, Dr. Gautreaux met with Pope Benedict XVI and formally requested the beatification, citing Balaguer as a “Dominican missionary.”
The author questioned the sanity of anyone making such a claim, comparing it to a previous, similar proposal by Rafael Corporán de los Santos to canonize Balaguer as “San Joaquín de Navarrete.”
Expressing mock sorrow for not knowing Dr. Gautreaux, the author lamented that institutions like NASA and prestigious universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and the Sorbonne were missing out on the “luminous” ideas of this supposed “Antillean genius.” The piece suggested that a lighthouse honoring Gautreaux should be built, comparable to the one dedicated to Christopher Columbus.
The author pondered what the new saint’s name might be if the canonization request were approved by Pope Benedict XVI – perhaps San Joaquín, San Balaguer, San Elito, or even San Joaquín de Navarrete. However, the piece concluded with a pointed observation: if churches were named after these hypothetical saints in the Dominican Republic, it would be the families of victims like Orlando Martínez and Narciso González (Narcisazo) who would likely hold masses for the souls of the thousands killed during Balaguer’s twelve years in power.
