Bishop Xavier Novell Bishop Xavier Novell Gomà, who resigned as Bishop of Solsona in August, has applied for a civil marriage license with his partner, who is herself a divorcee.
However, various reports have revealed that there is no record that Bishop Novell, 52, has been dismissed from the clerical state, or has even requested such an action to take place.
Those who are in holy orders invalidly attempt marriage, as do those bound by the bond of a prior marriage. A cleric who attempts marriage can be sanctioned, even by dismissal from the clerical state.
According to a document released by Spanish media, Bishop Novell made the request with the Civil Registry of Suria in Spain’s Barcelona Province October 7.
Bishop Novell resigned August 23 citing “strictly personal reasons”. The diocese announced that the decision was made freely and in accord with a canon which asks that a bishop “who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause … present his resignation from office”.
Various media broke the news September 5 that Bishop Novell moved to Manresa to live with Silvia Caballol, 38, a psychologist and author of erotic novels with satanic undercurrents, some of them limited to those 18 or older.
The apostolic administrator of Solsona, Bishop Romà Casanova i Casanova of Vic, wrote in September that a bishop’s relationship with his diocese is “much more than the cold reality of a captain who makes things go as best as possible”, adding that “the Lord never abandons his people. To come out of this we have to live out the communion that leads us to fraternity and trusting prayer.”