Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano was told to step down last year as head of the diocese of Ciudad del Este.

At the time, the Vatican cited unspecified "serious pastoral reasons".

The dismissal came after Francis sent Cardinal Santos Abril, a financial expert, to Paraguay to investigate.

There had been accusations reported in media of alleged sexual abuse of seminarians by a vicar-general before he came to the diocese.

But the Vatican denied the dismissal was because of mishandling of abuse allegations.

Now, an Associated Press investigation shows that Ciudad del Este diocese is $US800,000 in debt.

Critics claim, but have not proved, the former bishop used Church money to enrich his family, support a gambling habit and live lavishly.

Documents reviewed by the Associated Press also recorded at least US$40,000 in payments made to the bishop's brother, Benjamin Livieres, for unspecified services.

The former bishop, who is a member of Opus Dei, has denied any wrongdoing.

Currently, he is hospitalised in Argentina with diabetes complications.

Lay Catholics have hired a lawyer to audit the diocese's finances.

They are also seeking information about 18 vehicles bought by the diocese that cannot be found.

Questions have also been raised as to the sale of two diocesan properties in 2013 for US$400,000 and US$202,000.

Bishop Livieres Plano went ahead with the sales without the Vatican's approval that was required for financial decisions in Paraguay worth more than US$150,000.

The bishop said the funds from the sales were used for work on seminary buildings.

There have also been allegations that donated funds were not used for their intended purpose.

Bishop Guillermo Steckling, who took over the diocese five months ago, acknowledged he had discovered several accounting irregularities from his predecessor.

However, he ruled out pushing for criminal charges, arguing the diocese needed healing after years of divisions.

Pope Francis is to visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay from July 5-12, with reconciliation and renewal the main themes of the visit.

Sources

• Associated Press
• Crux
• News.va
• Image: Crux

On September 25, Bishop Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano of Ciudad del Este diocese was removed to preserve the "unity of both the bishops and of the faithful", according to a Vatican statement.

"Serious pastoral concerns" were also cited.

Bishop Livieres had allowed a priest accused of abusing seminarians in other countries to minister in his diocese.

A Vatican spokesman denied these accusations were central to the bishop's removal, but said this had been debated.

Bishop Livieries had appointed Argentina Fr Carlos Urrutigoity as vicar-general, despite his track record in the United States.

Scranton diocese in Pennsylvania posted a message to its website this year that that the priest "was identified as posing a serious threat to young people".

Fr Urrutigoity was removed as vicar-general in Ciudad del Este in July, just before an apostolic visitation by Spanish Cardinal Santos Abril Castello.

Ordinations were suspended in the diocese after the visit.

The Vatican statement said the "onerous decision" to dismiss Bishop Livieres was made after a "careful examination" of the findings of a Vatican investigation conducted by the congregations for Bishops and for Clergy.

Several years ago, Bishop Livieres publicly accused Asuncion's archbishop of being gay, setting off a public uproar.

After he became bishop in 2004, Bishop Livieres opened his own diocesan seminary in Ciudad del Este and shortened the formation period to four years.

On September 25, Bishop Livieres posted a letter to his diocesan website, stating that he opened this seminary to make up for the failings of the national seminary.

This raised the ire of his fellow bishops, Bishop Livieres wrote.

He claimed his removal came as a result of an ideological campaign by Paraguayan bishops in league with Vatican officials.

"The true problem of the church in Paraguay is the crisis of faith and moral life perpetuated by bad formation of clergy and the negligence of pastors," he wrote.

Bishop Livieres also complained that he was never shown Cardinal Abril's report, that the apostolic visitation was flawed and that he was not allowed to speak with Pope Francis on his situation.

He said all allegations of inappropriate conduct were false, but he would accept the Pope's decision.

Sources

• New York Times
• National Catholic Reporter
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: BBC

No public announcement has been made about the reason for the suspension, but it will remain in place until Pope Francis resolves difficulties in the diocese.

The Vatican ordered an investigation following revelations that a priest who is accused of sexual abuse in the United States was serving as vicar-general in Ciudad del Este.

However, diocesan leader Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano has defended Fr Carlos Urrotigoity in the past, saying that the charges against him are unproven.

Fr Urrotigoity, an Argentine priest, worked in the US more than a decade ago.

Earlier this year a statement from Scranton diocese in Pensylvania said that Bishop Livieres had been warned that the priest posed "a serious threat to young people" and cautioned him "to not allow Fr Urrutigoity to incardinate into his diocese".

Fr Urrutigoity was reportedly removed from his post as vicar general in Ciudad del Este earlier this month, at the request of the apostolic nuncio in Paraguay.

But he reportedly remains an active priest in Paraguay.

The revelations brought to a head tensions between Bishop Livieres and other bishops in Paraguay.

There were also complaints from lay activists about alleged irregularities in diocesan affairs.

Defenders of Bishop Livieres have argued that the complaints against him have been fuelled by liberal ideology.

They note that Bishop Livieres, a harsh critic of liberation theology and a strong supporter of traditional liturgy, has led a strong revival of the faith in the diocese, pointing to increases in the numbers of priests, church weddings, and Baptisms.

The investigation in Ciudad del Este was led by Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, who is president of the commission of cardinals that oversees the Vatican Bank (Institute for the Works of Religion).

He was joined in the investigation by Bishop Milton Troccoli, the auxiliary bishop of Montevideo, Uruguay.

As he prepared to return to Rome, Cardinal Abril y Castello urged the faithful in Paraguay to respect the Vatican's decision and await further announcements.

Bishop Livieres said that he would obey directives from Rome, while insisting that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Sources

• Catholic World News
• Vatican Information Service
• The Tablet
• Image: Teinteresa.es