Ex-Jesuit Rupnik is welcomed in Slovenian diocese of Koper

The alleged abuser Marko Rupnik, expelled from the Jesuit order, has been incardinated in the Slovenian diocese of Koper. The diocese confirmed this to katholisch.de. Several sources close to the Jesuit order had reported this on Wednesday morning. After his expulsion from the Jesuit order, Rupnik was initially without an incardination association, a condition not provided for by canon law. With the incardination, Rupnik is now assigned to the clergy of the diocese of Koper, the diocesan bishop is responsible for supervision and maintenance. In principle, Rupnik can thus exercise all priestly services again.

There are allegations of abuse against the Slovenian clergyman from the years 1980 to 2000, during which he allegedly spiritually and mentally abused or sexually molested 20 women, including seven religious. In January 2020, Rupnik was excommunicated for a serious violation of canon law. However, the Roman Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith lifted the excommunication in May 2020. The Jesuit Order still prohibited Rupnik from publicly exercising his priesthood in 2022 and imposed further conditions on him, which he repeatedly ignored.

As recently as June of this year, the Slovenian cleric had personally completed work on a Franciscan church in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and had begun further work, including on a bishop's chapel on the Croatian island of Hvar. In July, Rupnik was finally expelled from the Jesuit order. He remained a cleric. (mtr)