Pope Francis fires Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano for protecting a priest accused of child abuse. Pope Francis fires Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano due to fact that he covered and promoted Argentine priest, Reverend Carlos Urrutigoity who was accused of sexually abusing American children along with priest Eric Ensey. The Bishop is also accused of embezzlement.
In July, Pope Francis made an unprecedented move by sending two bishops to formerly investigate Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano who was the head of the diocese of Ciudad del Este in Paraguay.
Pope Francis took action after receiving two letters that stated that the Bishop of the diocese of Ciudad del Este was stealing funds, covering priests who were accused of molesting kids and ousting other bishops who caught on and complained about the scandals.
The so-called results of the investigation were revealed last week Thursday in a lengthy statement from the Vatican, which failed to explain exactly what were the crimes and sins committed by Bishop Plano.
In the statement, Pope Francis said that Bishop Plano was given the boot and replaced by Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Ríos. Pope Francis who vowed to change the image of the Catholic church, which has been hit by numerous pedophilia scandals, said:
“After a careful examination of the findings of the Apostolic Visitations made to the Bishop, dioceses and seminaries of Ciudad del Este, by the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Clergy, the Holy Father has proceeded with the replacement of Bishop Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano. He has appointed Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Ríos, Bishop of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo, as Apostolic Adminostrator of the now vacant diocese.”
Pope Francis shared that the bishop’s actions were unrighteous and he decided to fire him “for the greater good and unity of the Church of Ciudad del Este and episcopal communion in Paraguay.”
The pope went on to ask his followers, the clergy and the entire people of God of Ciudad del Este to accept the Holy See’s decision with the spirit of obedience, docility and an open heart, guided by faith.
The reaction to the statement went something like this, Pope Francis fires Bishop, that is good, but he could have done more and he certainly could have explained his decision.
Barbara Dorris, the director of the Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests issued a statement that said:
“Still, it’s not healthy to leave everyone speculating about the real reasons why the bishop was ousted. Kids are safer when those who risk their safety are quickly, harshly, publicly and clearly punished. That hasn’t happened here.”
In 2002, Rev. Carlos Urrutigoity was named in a lawsuit that accused him of sexually molesting students at St. Gregory’s Academy in Scranton, Pennsylvania along with another priest, Eric Ensey.
Both men were suspended from their ministry by then-Bishop James Timlin.
The old policy of the Catholic church regarding priests accused of molesting children, was to transfer them elsewhere.
Urrutigoity was transferred to Canada for nine years and then to Paraguay, where Bishop Livieres made him vicar general of the diocese.
