The Vatican has ordered Msgr Alojz Uran, the former Archbishop of Ljubljana, to leave Slovenia over rumours that he broke his celibacy vows and fathered two children, now adults, neither of whom he recognises as his, reports Vatican Insider.“This is a temporary measure to calm public opinion until the question is resolved,” stated Andrej Saje, spokesman for Slovenia’s bishops, on Ljubljana’s public television.
Archbishop Uran will move to the northern Italian city of Trieste.
“The problem is his alleged paternity, which the former archbishop has always denied, but I think there have been some misunderstandings between him and the Holy See. Once these are cleared up, Uran will be able to return to his country,” Saje added.
His comments contradicted long-running speculation the sanctions decided by the Congregation for Bishops are linked to the financial scandal which brought the Diocese of Maribor to the brink of bankruptcy two years ago.
Uran retired unexpectedly in 2009, after five years in charge, for health reasons after a heart operation, but soon rumours began to spread about him allegedly fathering two children, a fact he apparently kept secret from his Vatican superiors.