The Jesuits “exhaustively” warned a Slovenian bishop that the incardination of a celebrity Catholic priest-artist facing multiple accusations of sexual abuse into his diocese was a grave mistake, it has emerged.
Father Johan Verschueren of the Society of Jesus suggested to Bishop Jurij Bizjak that the accusations against Fr Marko Rupnik, who was expelled from the Jesuits in June, are credible and warned that he should not be allowed to practice his ministry while investigations continue.
However Bizjak, who heads the diocese of Koper in the coastal region of Slovenia, ignored the warnings with reports emerging in late October that Rupnik had been allowed to return to the functions of his office in Slovenia from August onwards.
This decision came despite the fact that Rupnik remains accused by over 25 women, including religious sisters, of sexual abuse. Recently, one of his accusers (also a nun) alleged he solicited “kisses in the name of the Eucharist” and threesomes to imitate the Trinity, further making life for her and others a “descent into hell”.
“By no means did we participate in the incardination of MIR [Marko Ivan Rupnik]. On the contrary,” insisted Verschueren.
The diocese defended its decision in an October 25 statement by saying that “no judicial ruling has been issued” against the Slovenian priest.
It is significant that Rupnik is native to the region, having been born in nearby Zadlog, which falls within the episcopal jurisdiction of Koper.
Rupnik was earlier expelled from the Jesuit order in June for “his stubborn refusal to observe the vow of obedience” after he defied restrictions placed upon his office while investigations take place.
As early as January, Rupnik had himself asked to leave the Jesuits “by free will”. This request was denied by his superior.
The following week, a delegation appointed by the Society of Jesus to investigate complaints put together a dossier containing a further 15 new accusations of abuse against him.
The Jesuit spokesperson revealed that by the time Bishop Bizjak wrote to the Jesuits offering to incardinate Rupnik, “we already knew the shocking content of the conclusions of the referente team”.
“Consequently,” he said, “Father General [Arturo Sosa, the Jesuit superior] refused to give Father Rupnik the indult. On the contrary, we wanted to keep him in the Society of Jesus under strict restrictions, in another place, and in order to start a process of psychological assessment and therapy.”
After Rupnik “persisted in total refusal” to cooperate, his behaviour “led to his ‘dimissio non-petens’” (unrequested expulsion) from the order.
“We asked the bishop [of Koper] whether he would change his opinion after having received the information. He apparently did not,” stated Verschueren.
Although Pope Francis lifted the statute of limitations on the Rupnik abuse case in order for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to investigate and allow due process to continue, this does not change Rupnik’s presently valid and licit status as an active priest according to canon law.
Rupnik will thus continue to serve within the diocese.
Despite Verschueren and the Jesuits’ official statements, questions remain regarding the Society of Jesus’ handling of the affair.
Superior General Sosa revealed that Rupnik had incurred excommunication for his behaviour in the confessional as early as 2019, but Rupnik continued to preach online to large audiences, receive public commendations, and in 2020 was even invited by the Vatican to preach the first Lenten sermon to Pope Francis and the Curia in Rome.