Bishop-Exorcist Leaves Church After Falling For Writer Of Satanic-Themed Erotica

A Catholic bishop in Spain resigned last month after falling in love with an erotic novelist and deciding to start a new life with her.

Xavier Novell, aged 52, resigned as the Bishop of Solsona in Catalonia for “personal reasons” and left the Catholic church after being smitten with Silvia Caballol, reported BBC. The departure came as a shock to many but Novell had reportedly met with the Vatican multiple times to discuss his resignation.

Novell, a famed exorcist, told a Spanish newspaper, “I have fallen in love and want to do things properly.”

Caballol, a psychologist and erotic novelist, is known for her novels, “The Hell of Gabriel's Lust” and the “Amnesia” trilogy, reported the New York Post. She has explored the theme of God and Satan, good and evil, madness, lust and sadism to shake readers’ religious beliefs and values.

Novell is currently looking for a job as an agronomist or crop expert in Barcelona.

In 2010, Novell became the youngest bishop in Spain at the age of 41. Novell backed the controversial and dangerous gay conversion therapy and spoke in favor of Catalonian independence.

Novell’s decision to step down has drawn criticism from colleagues. One church colleague told the Spanish media that the situation is “not a problem of celibacy but rather of infestation,” reported Telegraph.

The news has not only drawn media attention but has also renewed the issue of celibacy within the Church. Earlier, Novell had confessed to having been in love with an 18-year-old girl in his youth, whom he wanted to marry and have children with before deciding to become a priest.

Dominican nun Lucía Caram said Novell was "out of his mind," reported BBC. She also criticized his promotion of "conversion therapy".