Bishop Rogelio Livieres of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, said former president and ex-bishop Fernando Lugo swept local clergy into politics and turned parishes into his political committees.
After a July 10 meeting with current president of Paraguay Federico Franco, Bishop Livieres said former Paraguay president had promised to abandon his political aspirations when he was still as bishop but never kept his word.
“He made a solemn promise before 17 bishops plus the apostolic nuncio, but afterwards he went on as if it were nothing and dragged a significant portion of the clergy with him, as well as a large number of nuns, and chapels and parishes became Lugo’s political committees,” the newspaper ABC reported.