Argentina's military bishop has been removed from his position after saying the public health minister should be "thrown in the sea" for favoring the legalization of abortion.
President Nestor Kirchner withdrew his support for Bishop Antonio Baseotto on Friday, canceling both his salary and government funds for his military diocese.
The decision puts Mr. Kirchner in a difficult position with Roman Catholic leaders at the Vatican who insisted the bishop be installed in 2002 despite government objections.
Argentine officials assert that the bishop's remarks are inflammatory and reminiscent of protocols used during the country's last military dictatorship from 1976 - 1983.
Bishop Baseotto's comments last month were especially controversial because Argentina's security forces literally dumped political prisoners alive into the sea from military aircraft during the dictatorship.