Former Jesuit Marko Rupnik, Author Centroaletti (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
Gloria Branciani first accused the Catholic priest, Marko Rupnik, of adult clergy abuse as long ago as 1993 [1]. Some 20 women (most of them nuns, members of the Loyola Community, a now defunct religious group Rupnik co-founded) have made the same accusation against him.
Clergy abuse is the misuse of religious authority to harass, exploit, or engage in sexual activity with victims [2].
Branciani described Rupnik’s emotional, psychological, and spiritual manipulation at a recent news conference. Evidently, Rupnik’s sexual proclivities included a partiality for threesomes which he likened to the Trinity — a comparison simultaneously blasphemous and narcissistic.
Though complaints have now been ongoing for decades, the Catholic Church has yet to remove Rupnik from the priesthood.
Background
Rupnik is a famous artist in Catholic Church circles [3A]. His mosaics decorate sanctuaries and shrines worldwide. That may be why the church turned a blind eye to his abuse.
Rupnik was actually excommunicated by the church in 2020, when he “absolved” one of his victims for having sex with him [3B]. Amazingly, he was reinstated the same month, after a formal display of repentance [4].
Rupnik was expelled by the Jesuits in June 2023 for failure to respond to the credible allegations against him, only to be installed in the Slovenian Diocese of Koper four months later [3C][5].
Spiritual Violence
Clergy sexual abuse constitutes both sexual and psychological violence [6A]. It is a profound violation of trust. More than that, it constitutes spiritual violence [6B]. Religious trauma rising to such a level can destroy a victim’s faith, as well as scar her for life [6C].
Church Inertia
The Catholic Church’s failure to take action begs the question of whether it understands the concept of justice at all. Clearly, the canonical system is broken. The focus may be on rehabilitating the offender, but takes into no account whatsoever the harm done to victims.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith entrusted with handling the Rupnik case issued the following vague statement:
“After expanding the search to realities not previously contacted and having just received the latest elements in response, it will now be necessary to study the acquired documentation in order to identify which procedures can and should be implemented [7].”
Can any rational man or woman imagine St. Peter having said this, in similar circumstances?!
Justice delayed is justice denied. The ponderous approach the Catholic Church has adopted — in the Rupnik case, as in its massive child sex scandal — amounts to complicity with the predators, and an abandonment of the faithful. The faithful know it, if the church does not.
Legal Recourse
Regardless of whether the church takes action to defrock a cleric like Rupnik, clergy abuse is a crime in several states that can result in criminal prosecution of the perpetrator [8]. The victims of clergy sexual abuse may, also, seek monetary compensation in court.
Biblical Standard
The biblical standard for bishops, pastors, priests, elders, and deacons of the church is set out at 1 Timothy 3: 1-11 and Titus 1: 6-9 [9]. The character of shepherds is to be blameless. The relevant Scripture reads, in part:
“...deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience” (1 Tim. 3: 8-9).
It is obvious that standard was not met here.
—
[1] America, “Woman allegedly abused by disgraced former Jesuit Marko Rupnik speaks out for first time” by Nicole Winfield (Associated Press), 2/21/24, https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/02/21/vatican-jesuit-rupnik-abuse-247354.
[2] Baylor University, “Clergy Sexual Abuse research”, https://socialwork.web.baylor.edu/research-impact/ongoing-research-and-projects/clergy-sexual-abuse-research.
[3] Youtube, The World Over, “Rupnik Victim Speaks: Fr. Thomas Berg with Raymond Arroyo”, 2/22/24, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqDhxGKEyes.
[4] The Pillar, “How the Jesuits could have laicized Rupnik, and why they should have” by Ed Condon, 7/25/23, https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/how-the-jesuits-could-have-laicized.
[5] Catholic Review, “Father Marko Rupnik, disgraced former Jesuit, incardinated in Slovenian diocese” by Gina Christian, 10/26/23, https://catholicreview.org/father-marko-rupnik-disgraced-former-jesuit-incardinated-in-slovenian-diocese/.
[6A, 6B, and 6C] Marquette University, “Religious Faith in the Unjust Meantime: The Spiritual Violence of Clergy Sexual Abuse” by Theresa Weynand Tobin, 2019, https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1805&context=phil_fac.
[7] Vatican News, “Doctrine of Faith reviews Rupnik case documentation as investigation continues” by Salvatore Cernuzio, 2/21/24, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-02/dicastery-doctrine-faith-marko-rupnik-investigation-update.html.
[8] Clergy Sexual Misconduct Information & Resources, “Adult Clergy Abuse Law”, https://clergysexualmisconduct.com/adult-clergy-abuse-law.
[9] The Gospel Coalition, “What Are the Requirements to Be an Elder?” by Justin Taylor, 6/21/19, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/what-are-the-requirements-to-be-an-elder/.
FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Alarming, and sadly, not surprising. They have soiled their witness to the world time and time again. After all the publicity of sexual scandal in the Catholic Church going back decades, that they are yet desensitized and cavalier about the repercussions of such abuse is repugnant. Their wealth, I suppose, is their shield.
It is a tragic situation for victims.
That the Catholic Church can continually allow these evil predators to hold the office of a pastor or bishop speaks volumes about their leadership. The Almighty will hold them accountable one day, and no papal decree will save them.
It also says to me that if you have the title or the position, then you have carte blanch to abuse and manipulate people at your whim.
There is no excuse for permitting this type of abuse of God’s children. Hell is going to be hot and it’s going to be eternal for all of these non-repentant, narcissistic wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I wholeheartedly agree, Ron. It is beyond my understanding that this perversion is tolerated — even abetted. Another illustration perhaps of the fundamental truth that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Unfortunately Anna, such abuse is also rampant in Protestant churches. Hardly a week goes by that I’m not made aware of a sexual abuse issue in a Baptist or Pentecostal church. They too are adept at hiding or outright ignoring the abuse, sometimes for many years. Honestly, I don’t know how a man can stand behind a pulpit knowing that such sin is in his life.
The action of the Slovenian diocese of Koper is shameful, but a cockroach can always find a dark crevice into which it can crawl.
You have described the situation perfectly.