Los Angeles auxiliary bishop resigns, admits fathering children

January 04, 2012

Bishop Gabino Zavala, an auxiliary of the Los Angeles archdiocese, has resigned, after revealing that he is the father of two teenage children.

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles announced the resignation of his auxiliary on January 4. He disclosed that Bishop Zavala had admitted early in December that he was the father of two children. Shortly thereafter, Bishop Zavala submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, and it was accepted.

An official announcement from the Vatican, also released on January 4, said only that the bishop’s resignation had been accepted under the terms of #401 (2) of the Code of Canon Law—which stipulates that a bishop may be asked to resign if he becomes unfit for office because of illness or other grave reason.

Bishop Zavala, the president of the American branch of Pax Christi, has been an outspoken proponent of liberal political causes, demanding changes in US foreign policy and immigration law and criticizing Catholics who focus their political efforts on the effort to stop abortion.

 

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Further information:

• Other Pontifical Acts (VIS)
• Bishop Zavala resigns after disclosing he is father of two children (CNS)
• U.S. Catholic bishop who resigned fathered two children (Reuters)