Spain’s youngest bishop has been stripped of his church powers, the country’s episcopal conference said on Saturday, after he married a psychologist-turned-author of satanic erotica. “As is publicly known, Bishop Xavier Novell Goma, bishop emeritus of Solsona, has contracted a civil marriage with Ms Silvia Caballol, on 22 November, 2021 in the town of Suria, in the province of Barcelona,” the conference wrote in the statement. Any cleric attempting to get married, even if only civilly, is subject to suspension, the statement added. Novell became Spain’s youngest bishop when he was appointed to Solsona in 2010 aged 41, and was a highly regarded conservative who reportedly endorsed gay conversion therapy and practised exorcisms. Novell has reportedly been seeking work as an agronomist in the Barcelona region.

Source: The Guardian December 12, 2021 03:41 UTC