Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano, 69, resigned as the ordinary of Ciudad del Este diocese last September, but the Holy See never specified why.

The resignation came after an apostolic visitation of the diocese arranged by Rome a few months earlier.

There had been controversies over financial and spending decisions as well as the bishop's appointment of a vicar-general who had been accused of molesting seminarians elsewhere.

The priest in question denied the allegations and the case was eventually settled.

After Bishop Livieres Plano resigned, US$1million in debt came to light.

Bishop Livieres Plano, a member of Opus Dei, asserted he had been "persecuted" for his orthodoxy by liberal parishioners and fellow bishops.

Asuncion Archbishop Edmundo Valenzuela told The Associated Press a group of Paraguayan clergy recently visited Bishop Livieres Plano in Buenos Aires.

"Happily we were able to say goodbye to our brother Rogelio" before he died, said Archbishop Valenzuela.

Meanwhile, a German newspaper has reported that Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst won't have to pay any compensation to his former Limburg diocese.

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst, who became known as the "Bishop of Bling" because of reports that he had authorised more than US$34 million in spending on his residence and other diocesan building projects, resigned in 2014.

In July, the Limburg diocese disclosed that it was seeking more than US$4 million in compensation from him for aspects of the spending.

However, a news report in Bild stated that Pope Francis has decided that the German bishop will not be required to repay expenses over the diocesan budget.

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst is now living in Rome, working on catechetical affairs for the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation.

Sources

• Associated Press
• Catholic World News
• Image: Tekton Ministries

The former partner of the 11-year-old's mother is accused of the rape.

The baby weighed 3.3 kilos and was born by caesarean section. Post-operative recovery is going well.

Paraguayan law permits abortion if a mother's life is endangered.

In this instance, a panel including medical doctors, psychologists and judicial officials determined that the life of the girl was not at risk.

In June, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asked that the Paraguayan government allow an abortion in this case.

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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

Bishop Rogello Livieres Plano incardinated Fr Carlos Urrutigoty in Ciudad del Este diocese in 2005, where he was later appointed vicar-general.

Recently the Vatican suspended ordinations to the priesthood in the diocese, following an apostolic visitation ordered by Rome.

The diocese subsequently defended itself, saying Fr Urrutigoity "came recommended by some cardinals with functions in the Holy See (one of them, elected a few days later Successor of Peter)".

The Vatican, through the apostolic nuncio, and "with the consent of the excardinating bishop", authorised the incardination, the diocese stated.

A diocesan review board in Scranton found an abuse allegation credible a decade ago.

Fr Urrutigoity's alleged offending involved an adult, not a child, the diocese maintained, so his case was never referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Bishop Plano has always believed him to be innocent.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was to become Pope Benedict XVI.

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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

The president did not agree with the bishop's comments on genetically modified crops.

In his homily, Bishop Medina criticised the Paraguay government for allowing the importation of genetically altered corn and cotton seeds.

Bishop Medina said the crops are "dangerous to human life and to the environment".

They "can lead to death".

Objecting to the bishop's homily, President Franco stood up, approached the pulpit and asked if he might explain.

Taking the microphone from the bishop, Franco challenged the bishop to give him documentation from science or an expert that shows genetically modified crops are harmful.

The President spoke for seven minutes and gave the congregation an undertaking that with the right evidence, he would be prepared to review his position.

Upon having the microphone returned to him, Bishop Medina suggested the topic be dropped for now, but concluded saying, "the use of genetically-altered seeds ought to be reconsidered."

Speaking to reporters after the Mass, Bishop Medina said he was not upset about the interruption by President Franco.

"Dialogue Masses in which the people participate are normal here in Villa Florida. That is something completely valid and doesn't bother me. We even invite people to make comments."

The bishop however noted it was the first time he had been interrupted by a president.

Sources

• EWTN
• Ultimahora
• Image: Ultimahora

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.

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