Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach of Barcelona, Spain has called Fr.
Manel Pousa “to speak personally” about the contents of a recently
published book.
In it, the priest voices support for “voluntary”
celibacy, women priests and admits he has “blessed” civil unions of
same-sex prisoners.
The book, “Father Manel. Closer to Earth than to Heaven,” hit
bookstores in Spain on Feb. 28.
It recounts the life of the
controversial Spanish priest, who told reporters in 2008 that he had
paid for abortions.
The author of the book, Francesc Buxeda, said it highlights Father
Manel’s work in prison ministry in Catalonia and in the poor
neighborhoods of Barcelona.
The Archdiocese of Barcelona responded to the book's release on March
8, stating that “Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, Archbishop of
Barcelona, has summoned Fr. Manel Pousa to speak personally with him
about the some of the contents of this book and to make whatever
decisions are appropriate.”