A Spanish Catholic bishop is under investigation by the Vatican over an allegation of sexual abuse dating back three decades, his diocese confirmed this week.
Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of the Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta has temporarily stepped back from public duties while the Holy See examines claims that he abused a teenage boy in the 1990s, when he was a priest and rector of a diocesan seminary near Madrid.
The 76-year-old bishop, who has led the southern diocese since 2011, “firmly denies” the allegation, which he described through his office as “false.”
The Spanish newspaper El País first reported the case on Monday, stating that the complaint was submitted this summer to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
According to the report, the alleged victim claimed that the abuse took place over several years while Zornoza was in charge of the major seminary of Getafe. The case, which is time-barred under Spanish civil law, will now proceed under canonical procedures.
In a statement, the Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta said the bishop “is temporarily suspending his schedule while the case is investigated” and “will cooperate fully with the inquiry.” It continued, “The accusations being made, referring to events that took place nearly thirty years ago, are very serious and also false.”
The diocese added, “There is full confidence in the justice system, and full cooperation will be provided in everything that is required. At the same time, it is necessary to remember to respect the presumption of innocence that applies to all persons.”
The tribunal handling the case has reportedly been convened at the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid, under the supervision of the Archbishop of Seville, as required by Church norms when a bishop is accused.
If confirmed, the inquiry would mark the first time a Spanish bishop has faced a canonical investigation of this kind.
The Catholic Church in Spain, like many others, has faced intense scrutiny over historical abuse. A government-commissioned report last year estimated that as many as 440,000 minors may have been victims of sexual abuse by clerics or Church workers.
Across the wider Church, revelations of clerical abuse and institutional cover-ups have shaken public trust, prompting new procedures for reporting and accountability. Bishop Zornoza’s case now stands as the Vatican seeks to balance justice for victims with the rights of the accused.
