Catholic bishop resigns, says he's a dad

VATICAN CITY - The pope has accepted the early resignation of a Los Angeles bishop who recently acknowledged being the father of two teenagers.

Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala, 60, resigned Wednesday under the code of canon law that lets bishops step down earlier than the normal retirement age of 75 if they're sick or for some other reason that makes them unfit for office.

In a letter to the faithful, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez said Zavala had told him in December that he had two children who lived with their mother in a different state. Zavala subsequently submitted his resignation to the pope.

The archdiocese has offered spiritual and financial aid to help the children with college costs, Gomez said in the letter posted on the blog of the Catholic News Service of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Roman Catholic priests are required to be celibate, though Eastern rite priests can be married and married Anglican priests who convert can become Catholic priests. The celibacy requirement is often blamed for discouraging many men who would otherwise consider the priesthood.

Also Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI named Monsignor Cirilio Flores to eventually take over the San Diego diocese when Bishop Robert Brom retires.

In 2007, Brom oversaw a $198.1 million settlement with 144 people who said they were sexually abused by priests, at the time the second-largest abuse settlement since the scandal broke out in the United States in 2002.

[margroks]

It's way past times that Catholics give up the stupid celibacy rule AND that they allow women in the priesthood.

[endrepubs]

The Catholic Church is the biggest joke in human history.

[Dgunner]

The great ***** of catholicism is a business second only to condoms and donuts.There is more profit in catholocism than any venture capitol on earth. No one absolves sin but GOD. These people would do good to remember that is written "Judgement begins at the pulpit.purgatory is a hoax not mentioned anywhere in the great BOOKS and they forgot or ignored that it is also written "Woe unto those who harm the little ones".Verily I say unto you anyone who comes to the gates of heaven not like a little child will not enter into it.You can't out sin Gods' grace but you can p-ss him off!

[rwsmith29456]

Who cares what I think but priests should be able to marry and still be full fledged priests. The celibacy should be an honor for those who want it but optional. The Eastern church is right about this one.

[gadfly65]

As an atheist former Catholic, all I can say is that at least he's not saying it's not his fault - Satan attacked him because he was doing God's work, like Ted Haggard and all of the evangelicals say when they get caught in sexual impropriety.

[jeffkro]

Hey, congrats.

[themanfrombrum]

Throw a party! Let all of them get married!

[tmn]

Clergy are NOT God - they are imperfect human beings.
Clergy are NOT God - they are imperfect human beings.
Clergy are NOT God - they are imperfect human beings.
Clergy are NOT God - they are imperfect human beings.

[Dgunner]

"we are born of sin and die of sin from umbilical cord to umbilical cord from mother to husband to sister to death to the creator.

[92F150]

At least it was nice to offer help to the family. I guess it is a shock, but given the nature of the scandals the past few decades, maybe this is a yawner in comparison.

[notyrants]

BWB2020 January 4, 2012 7:12 PM EST
"...(AP)VATICAN CITY - The pope has accepted the early resignation of a Los Angeles bishop who recently acknowledged being the father of two teenagers..."

Teenagers? How is this then an "early resignation"?

He should have resigned the moment he realized he couldn't control his gear, and therefore failed his vow.

Sounds like the resignation is teen years too late, to me.
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Another slick operator. The church is socializing the cost of his kids education amongst the "faithful"