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    Calif. Catholic bishop resigns, says he has 2 kids

    VATICAN CITY (AP) — 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.

     
    • Me Joe  •  Norfolk, Nebraska  •  4 mths ago
      The only thing you did wrong was not to man up earlier - and be a father to your children.
      • Albert 4 mths ago
        Almost all male priests or clergy have fathered their own biological children. They would never own up or man up openly like this Bishop did. It is the USA that has to reward this person's truth. The rest of the clergy will buy the Bishop out otherwise they would fear he would sell them out. Face the facts Joe. It's ruthless.
      • Albert 4 mths ago
        Why does the catholic clergy want to be addressed as Fr. X (Father X), Fr. Y or Fr. Z. It implies that they would actually father biological children during their missionary lives and as such the human mind cannot blame them for it, because their title Father X, Father Y or Fr. Z itself says the truth. Human mind and mind games. In this religion it's secret. It's big business. Human fishing.
    • Rick Diculous  •  4 mths ago
      "The archdiocese has offered spiritual and financial aid to help the children with college costs. . . ." Here's a novel idea -- how about if the father of the children pays for their college costs?
      • TOM123 4 mths ago
        I said it another way - Not the archdiocese but The PARISHONERS are going to PAY the cost !
      • JosephL 4 mths ago
        And where do you think he's going to get any $?
        Everything he has comes from the church.
      • John 4 mths ago
        TOM123,...the parishioners make up the Arch Diocese, so that is already a moot point. There is no need to state the obvious. If the Bishop is being forced to resign because he has two teenage children from one woman, and maybe the church is not ready to wed the bishop and this woman (who to all intents and purposes is his wife), then the man is going to join the ranks of the unemployed very soon. Would you prefer that both him, his wife (or woman, depending on whichever term you prefer), and/or children go on welfare?
    • Jonny  •  4 mths ago
      What does his story have to do with the abused chldren? Just because he has kids doesn't mean he's a child molester.
      • James 4 mths ago
        Wake up. It shows that the Catholic Church is a corrupt and ancient institution who does not punish their own. This man was not punished and he will never be punished here on earth.
      • Toni 4 mths ago
        And the Public schools aren't corrupt?????? Ever heard of the rubber rooms?
      • Patriot 4 mths ago
        No. Tell me about it.
    • alfred  •  4 mths ago
      better have 2 kids than molesting innocent children
      • FranklinRoosevelt 4 mths ago
        yes, this is a suprising twist. but it is still a sex scandal. go figure.
      • zsailor1 4 mths ago
        How do you know the two kids were not by underage girls?
      • John S 4 mths ago
        Then explain Jerry Sandusky you twit!
    • Marcus  •  Sun Valley, California  •  4 mths ago
      A man with kids; the horror! Wouldn't be easier to allow for the priests to have normal family lives. The funniest thing I ever heard of was my catholic friend going through marriage counseling with their priest. From what experience is he pulling?
      • No Spin Here 4 mths ago
        they don't have to become priests. Shopuld we allow them to be alcoholics too? get real.
      • Joel 4 mths ago
        The former priest is coward. He should have changed to the Lutheran Christians. Jesus forgives just about all sins.
      • Debs 4 mths ago
        Mock away. My husband and I received marital counseling from our priest. The result was a stronger and more fulfilling relationship for both of us. We have been married for 21 years, btw, and couldn't be happier.
    • GK Chesterton  •  Portland, Maine  •  4 mths ago
      I'd rather the church attract married priests than pedophiles looking for a place to "hide".
    • Clary C  •  4 mths ago
      I believe in marriage. Why can't these men have and family and serve God at the same time. Where is this in the bible? May be I missed it.
    • Wile E.  •  4 mths ago
      It's a sad comment that I'm relieved that the latest scandal is about a Priest having kids on the side rather than a Priest "having" kids on the sly.
    • kJm2007  •  Waco, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      I just came to see the comments:)
    • Just Me in Tennessee  •  Chapel Hill, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND of ONE WIFE, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
    • Peggi  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  4 mths ago
      Why would the archdiocese think it has to pay to put this bishop's children through college?
    • rich l  •  4 mths ago
      So what? Episcopalian ministers who return to the fold are allowed to keep their families as ordained priests in the Catholic church. In fact, up until the First Lateran Council of 1123 Catholic priests were allowed to marry. The Vatican was concerned about them leaving their wealth to their children rather than the Catholic Church so they banned marriage.
    • meow!  •  4 mths ago
      I'm Catholic. I have always felt that priests, etc. should be allowed to marry and have families. The old excuse that "Jesus wasn't married" doesn't work in modern times. If the Church wants decent, normal men to be priests the old sanction needs to be lifted.
    • TV  •  4 mths ago
      He voluntarily took the vow of celibacy before God. He violated his own vow.
    • T  •  Norfolk, Virginia  •  4 mths ago
      Let priests marry. Sheesh!
    • ChuckP  •  Aurora, Colorado  •  4 mths ago
      I don't know why they still practice this celibacy rule. It's not biblical and these nuns and priests would be able to live a much happier life without this added strain.
    • Jacqueline Theodelinda  •  Los Angeles, California  •  4 mths ago
      If only he had resigned years ago, before his first child was born. What a disgrace.
    • Mia  •  4 mths ago
      I was raised catholic and don't see any reason why priests shouldn't marry.
    • Damir K  •  Melbourne, Australia  •  4 mths ago
      ALL twelve apostles (first Catholic priests taught by Jesus) were married and had families when chosen by Jesus. Catholic priests continue to marry for the first 1000 years of Catholic Church's existence. Today Catholic priests often preach how families should live and function, but they have no understanding of what it is to have a family of their own.
    • enc  •  4 mths ago
      Hey, better this story than the ones we've been getting for many years!!!
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