Bishop Rafael Zornoza of Cádiz y Ceuta temporarily suspends duties as Vatican investigates claims he abused a boy, 14-21, in 1994 seminary. He denies allegations.
Newsroom (11/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) Bishop Rafael Zornoza of the Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta has voluntarily stepped back from all public duties after the Vatican opened a formal ecclesiastical investigation into allegations that he sexually abused a minor beginning in 1994, when he was rector of the seminary in the Diocese of Getafe.
The decision was announced in a diocesan statement released November 10, one day after the Spanish newspaper El País revealed that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith had received a detailed complaint sent by mail earlier this summer.
According to the complainant — now an adult — the abuse began when he was 14 years old and continued until he was 21. He entered the Getafe seminary at age 18 while Zornoza, then a 45-year-old priest, served as rector.
In his testimony quoted by El País, the alleged victim recounted: “It was at night when he came to the room and I suffered the abuse. He got into my bed, caressed me and kissed me. In the mornings I also woke up the same way. At that time, I never said anything to him; paralysis controlled me.”
The complainant further alleged that Zornoza referred to his homosexuality as “my wound” and told him it prevented him from seeing things clearly, urging him to trust him completely. He claims the bishop used the sacrament of confession to manipulate and control him, stating that shortly after confessing homosexual acts, Zornoza would enter his bed and caress him.
The Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta, where Zornoza has served as bishop since 2011, categorically denied the accusations in its statement, calling them “very serious and also false” given that the alleged events occurred nearly thirty years ago.
The diocese confirmed that Bishop Zornoza “has decided to temporarily suspend his schedule to clarify the facts” and to continue treatment for an aggressive cancer he is currently battling.
It added that the case was formally submitted last week to the tribunal of the Rota of the Apostolic Nunciature in Spain and expressed “full confidence in justice,” pledging complete cooperation with the investigation while stressing “respect for the presumption of innocence that applies to all people.”
The Diocese of Getafe issued its own statement November 10, noting that “to this day no official body of the Diocese has received any formal accusation regarding the published events.” It offered full collaboration with competent authorities and reiterated its “firm condemnation of all types of abuse” and commitment to prevention.
The complainant told the Dicastery that ten years after leaving the seminary he emailed Zornoza, stating he had come to recognize he had been abused and manipulated. He received no reply.
This year he met the bishop in person and repeated the accusation. According to the letter sent to Rome, Zornoza responded that it “was never his intention,” while reportedly acknowledging the manipulation and abuse.
The Vatican has not publicly commented on the investigation. Under current Church law, accusations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy are handled directly by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which can impose disciplinary measures ranging from removal from ministry to laicization if the allegations are substantiated.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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