Vatican takes action in Paraguay diocese where accused Argentine priest removed

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is taking action in a divisive diocese in Paraguay where an Argentine priest, accused by a former superior of being a "serious threat to young people," has been removed as the No. 2.

The Rev. Carlos Urrutigoity is still an active priest in the Ciudad del Est diocese, however, in a sign that he remains in good standing with his bishop.

Urrutigoity's case re-emerged after Francis sent a team of Vatican investigators to the diocese this month to look into criticisms against its bishop by other Paraguayan prelates.

The bishop, Monsignor Rogelio Livieres, allowed Urrutigoity to join his diocese in 2005 after Urrutigoity's then-superior in Scranton, Pennsylvania, warned Livieres and the Vatican that he was a threat and unsuitable for the priesthood.