STAY INFORMED
Must Watch Videos
Ex-Bishop becomes President of Paraguay
On August 15 (the Solemnity of the Assumption), Paraguay will receive a new president: Fernando Lugo Mendez. From 1994 till 2005, Mendez was a Catholic bishop. According to the law of Paraguay, clerics cannot hold public office. Thus, Mendez has asked for laicization, and Pope Benedict XVI has granted it.
Laicization means that a deacon or priest (rarely a bishop) is dispensed of his faculty and may function as a laymen. However, the laicized cleric is still a cleric and bears the indelible mark of Holy Orders. Thus, Mendez is ontologically a bishop, though he can no longer function in this way.
The laicization of a bishop is extremely rare, so this is worth noting.
Dive Deeper
GET CONFIDENT IN YOUR FAITH
Explore the fascinating world of Catholic teachings with Dr. Marshall. Together you’ll unpack the brilliant answers the Church gives to tough questions about the Faith. The best part: you go at your own pace. Start this exciting journey today.