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Give To Caesar What Belongs To Him? |
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In Paraguay’s recent presidential election Fernando Lugo, an ordained Bishop, wrested power from the heretofore immutable Colorado Party. Lugo campaigned as a champion of the poor and disenfranchised, and abandoned his bishopric in order to do so; the Vatican opposes clergy in political office.
Lugo abandoned his role as a Catholic bishop three years ago saying he felt powerless to help Paraguay’s poor. He asked the Vatican to accept his resignation. The Vatican responded last year by suspending him from his priestly duties, like saying Mass. But it argued he remains a bishop because his ordination was a lifelong sacrament.
Now faced with the prospect of a bishop in the presidency upon inauguration in August, the Vatican says Lugo’s unique case is under review. The personal situation of Monsignor (Fernando) Lugo will be examined, calmly,” Father Federico Lombardi, chief Vatican spokesman, told one Italian newspaper this week. The head of Paraguay’s bishops’ conference said the decision may ultimately fall to Pope Benedict.
At a time when people lament both religion’s influence over politics and the lack of morality in their politicians, Lugo presents an interesting case – in Paraguay, the religious/political alloy isn’t pushing a conservative agenda (see sharia law, evangelicals in the US). Instead, Lugo is a product of liberation theology, a revolutionary. In our fucked up world, that means advocating on behalf of the poor and excluded.
There are justified reasons to be apprehensive about a former bishop as president, but, for Paraguay, this is a step in the right direction.
