The President of Paraguay Fernando Lugo is facing an interesting paternity lawsuit. It is bad enough when your country’s president is charged with fathering a child with a then 16 year old girl. It is even worse if you were the Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo at the time.
Viviana Carrillo is now 26. Lugo, 57, has admitted that he is the father.
Monsignor Mario Melanio Medina, bishop from the southern province of Misiones, had a mild defense: “Lugo lied to the church, but better late than never, as the saying goes. He won’t be the only one who lies to the church, but he recognized his mistake and that is a courageous act.” Hmmm. Since DNA would confirm paternity, it may be a bit less courageous and calculating. Yet, it appears to be working. People are actually applauding his acceptance of paternity.
For the full story, click here.
I am going to guess that the “Mother” church will pay the past due support as has been the case and was hoping that this would never come to light as in most actions of this type.
I suspect that a bishop in Paraguay like most other countries have a better living standard than most people in a civilized world. One would have to suspect that the “Mother” church was not amused that he could not control himself and fathered a child. Humm, looks like the standing on Abortion is in tact, or at least this one. I would surmise that this is not the first child of this man. And finally but not least, he was probably asked to move or resign his Bishopric as this type of conduct cannot be condoned.
I want my vote back.
This was my first time voting in an election ever and I now realize what my parents have known for decades.
Never trust the guy on the ballot that tells people anything they want to hear just to get elected. Electing him may be worse for my futue and the country’s future than electing his opposition.
Oh come on… Lugo isn’t the first Latin American President (or President anywhere) to have had girls on the side… it’s almost a job requirement. And, like it or not, rural priests (including Bishops) are not celibate in Latin America. At least he wasn’t fooling around with altar boys.
“Never trust the guy on the ballot that tells people anything they want to hear just to get elected. Electing him may be worse for my futue and the country’s future than electing his opposition.’
kleon,
Give me a break you never voted for President Obama. In any event do you really think McCain/Palin would be doing better?
richmx2
It wasn’t until July 2008 — after his election as president and 14 months after his son was born — that Pope Benedict XVI relieved him of his chastity vows by allowing him to resign from the church.
It was an affair that started when she was 16.
The United States is probably the only place in the world where voters give any thought to the candidate’s personal life, and I can’t see this really creating too much of a political problem for the Paraguayan president.
Not that I approve, but I’m not a Paraguayan voter, and I don’t live in Paraguay. But, I do live in Latin America where, alas, 16 year old women are often seen as adults and where relationships between younger women and older men do not raise an eyebrow… and where, for centuries, vows of chastity have been treated lightly, or openly ignored.
As a matter of fact, the two fathers of my country of residence (Mexico) — Padre Miguel Hidalgo and Padre Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon were biological fathers also.