A bishop resigned from the Catholic Church after falling in love with an erotica novelist who writes fiction tinged with satanic imagery, according to Spanish media reports.
With the Vatican’s approval, Xavier Novell, 52, resigned last month, citing general personal reasons. More details emerged in recent days with Spanish news site Religion Digital reporting he left because of a relationship with author and psychologist Silvia Caballol, a 38-year-old divorcee who has written stories such as The Hell of Gabriel’s Lust.
Novell now reportedly lives in Manresa, Spain, with Caballol and is seeking work as an agronomist.
Pope Francis announced in August he had accepted the resignation of Novell and appointed Bishop Romà Casanova Casanova of Vic to replace him. The Spanish Episcopal Conference also accepted Novell’s resignation.
“Bishop Novell took the decision after a time of reflection, discernment and prayer, at the end of which he spontaneously presented to the Holy Father his situation and his resignation of the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Solsona,” the conference said.
CHRISTIAN LEADERS ISSUE FIRST JOINT STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Novell, who became Spain’s youngest bishop in 2010, previously admitted to falling in love with an 18-year-old woman in his youth and confirmed he wanted marriage and children before he decided to join the church, according to the BBC. He also conducted exorcisms and supported gay conversion practices, the report said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Neither Novell nor Caballol has commented on being a couple.
The Spanish Diocese said the situation is “a strictly personal matter for [Novell] alone.”
