Asunción, Feb 2, 2007 / 09:46 am (CNA).- Through a declaration made public from the Congregation for Bishops yesterday, the Vatican has suspended, “a divinis” the Bishop Emeritus of San Pedro, Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, following his decision to run for his country's presidency in 2008.
 
 The Holy See, however, did not grant the Bishop his requested “laicization,” which is constitutionally necessary for a Paraguayan presidential candidate.
 
 The Apostolic Nunciature in Paraguay made public the decree, signed by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, according to which Lugo will, “remain in the clerical state and continue to be obliged to its inherent duties, although suspended in the sacred ministry.”
 
 Likewise, the letter reminds Lugo that “the episcopacy is a service accepted freely and forever,” and clarifies that in his case a Canonical exception for directly assuming political work does not apply.