Paraguay's president, a former bishop, fathered a child while still in clergy
June 05, 2012
Paraguay’s President Fernando Lugo has admitted that he fathered a child 10 years ago, while he was serving as a Catholic bishop.
Lugo, who announced in 2006 that he wanted to leave the priesthood in order to run for the presidency, was laicized by the Vatican in 2008, just before he took office. The Vatican announced that the unprecedented move was made “because his clerical status is incompatible with serving as president.”
Lugo had already acknowledged that he is the father of another child, who was conceived just before he took office. But the revelation of a 2nd child is potentially more damaging because Lugo apparently had become involved with a woman who had sought counseling while he was the Bishop of San Pedro.
A former Divine World missionary, Lugo was appointed a bishop in 1994, but resigned in 2005. At the time he said that his resignation was prompted by health issues, but he has proven robust enough to mount a political campaign and lead the country's government. He showed no signs of ill health until 2010, when he was diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer.
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Further information:
- Paraguay's Lugo admits fathering second child as bishop (Reuters)
- Paraguay's president, ex-bishop, granted lay status (CWN, 7/30/08)
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