Overview
- After an audience at the Vatican on Monday, the CEE’s nine-member executive said Pope León XIV was informed about the Cádiz bishop’s case.
- Luis Argüello said acceptance of Bishop Rafael Zornoza’s previously tendered resignation could come soon, with no date or mechanism specified and the canonical process ongoing.
- Church officials said the investigation has been open about 15 days, stems from a complaint sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and is being handled by the Madrid ecclesiastical tribunal known as the Rota.
- The Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta denies the allegations as false, says Zornoza is cooperating, and notes he has paused public duties to undergo treatment for an aggressive cancer.
- This is the first publicly known probe of a Spanish bishop over alleged abuse, and the bishops reported the Holy See’s positive feedback on Spain’s PRIVA system for prevention and victim reparations.