Redeem Rupnik

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A Witness to Abuse: Marko Rupnik's Rise and Fall

I met Marko Rupnik in Slovenia in the 1970s.  He had begun his preparation for the priesthood and was in his early years as an artist. He was painting abstract works using acrylics. He was intense, intelligent, persuasive and charismatic. We were all so impressed with him. It was easy to fall under his spell. I did and turned a blind eye to worrisome signs present at that time. I met him through the Catholic youth underground.


A friend brought me to an upper room where young people gathered to have Mass, where they could feel safe. At that time, Slovenia was a republic of the former communist Yugoslavia. Church attendance could negatively affect one's job, schooling, and benefits.


A handful of us met on Tuesday evenings for Mass and other prayers. I also met Ivanka Hosta there, who would go on to found an order of religious sisters (Community Loyola) with Fr. Rupnik as the co-founder and spiritual director. Later, I would meet several of the women who took vows there as the convent found its footing in Slovenia. 


I assisted Marko early on in his career. I was convinced I could never be as intelligent or as holy as he was. I did what I could to help as he opened his first exhibitions.


Conflict began in 1991. By 1993, there was a powerful tension between Fr. Rupnik and Sr. Ivanka Hosta, Mother General of the order Community Loyola. Those of us in the outer circle did not know what the issue was. We asked questions but received no relevant answers. Abruptly, Marko left Ljubljana, forsaking the order but taking some of the sisters with him. He relocated to Rome and set up his art studio, Centro Aletti.  


In 2015, Rupnik gave confessional absolution to a young Italian novice with whom he had sexual relations. Absolving grave sin in which the priest is complicit is grounds for automatic excommunication. Fr. Rupnik was excommunicated in May 2020 after an extended investigation. It is believed Pope Francis reversed the excommunication that same month. Why does it appear that Pope Francis is protecting Rupnik? 


The first accusations by the abused were made public in 2016. Fr. Rupnik, who was a Jesuit, was investigated by his order. The accusations were found to be credible, and the Jesuits threw him out on June 15, 2023. Rupnik did not protest his expulsion. Would the Jesuits have expelled him if they believed he was innocent? 


Rupnik, likely for decades, appears to have systematically abused over 20 of the nuns who professed vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, many of whom were nuns within the Community Loyola.  His abuse was sexual, psychological and, even more egregiously, spiritual. These women, very young at the time, had offered their lives to God. They had complete trust in their spiritual director. Fr. Marko Rupnik betrayed them, his own vows, his priesthood, and the Catholic Church.


See the links below for more details.

The Illusion of Consent: Rupnik's Manipulation

 Why am I so repulsed by Fr. Rupnik’s behaviour? Some argue that the actions in question happened between consenting adults. Prima facie I understand that reaction. I have three responses:


  1. Rupnik is an ordained priest.  That gave him power.  He was, in many cases, the Spiritual Director of the abused, which allowed them to be completely vulnerable to him.
  2. The women were young religious sisters who took vows. The Vow of Obedience required them to obey their superiors. The Church should have protected these women against any and all predators.
  3. Marko can be charming and smooth, but he is also cunning and a narcissist. He is highly intelligent, with a powerful, seemingly genuine spirituality that sets him apart from others. In short, asking the question about consenting adults shows that you have never spent any time with Rupnik.

 

 Abuse is always a sin. It is never acceptable.


Thankfully, as a young woman in Marko's orbit, I was never sexually abused.  He did manipulate me in a most heartbreaking manner. I did not realize it at the time. I suspect most of his victims did not realise they were being groomed. When I realised I had completely bought into his superiority over me as a human being I did not question him. I should have told him he had no right to ask me the things that he did.  At that moment, I had a choice to make, and I agreed to his “request,” which had immediate effect. It may have altered my life's path, but maybe it has not.  We will never know.

A Message to Victims: We Hear You

Psalm 43

 1 Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.2 You are God, my stronghold. 


Though the title of this website references Rupnik, you are the reason for the action we are taking.  We will not sit still and allow him to gather more victims.  We are putting all abusers in the Catholic clergy on notice that we are watching. 


Each of you deserves an apology for the havoc he has caused. I am deeply sorry for the agony you have experienced. Your families and loved ones have also suffered at Rupnik’s hands because they love you.   


We refuse to stand silently in the face of such evil.

The Vatican's Shame: A Systemic Failure

Fr. Marko Rupnik is not a unique problem. As a serial sexual abuser of Catholic nuns over four decades, he is one of the most notorious sexual predators the Church has ever tolerated. The leadership of the Catholic Church is THE PROBLEM.  Fr. Rupnik is the icon for the sexual predators within the church and the church hierarchy, which currently protects the predators and paedophiles.


When the Catholic priest sex abuse scandals appeared in the news in the 1980s, many Catholics turned their backs on the church. Others, like myself, swallowed hard, took several deep breaths and gave the Church time and many chances to investigate, report accurately and repudiate the behaviour of its clergy. We expected guilty priests to be investigated and thrown out of the church. The Church failed us. They have nibbled around the edges and paid lip service to justice for victims.  As a parent and a Catholic school teacher, I -- like many -- have watched children turn their backs on the Catholic Church because they are unwilling to be a part of an institution that refuses to stop abuse within its own ranks.  My heart breaks, yet I can't fault their reasons for leaving.


The Marko Rupnik scandal proves the Church, including most particularly Pope Francis, will protect sexual predators and paedophiles within the ranks of the clergy.  Occasionally, they say they care about the victims, but actions speak louder than words. They actually blame the victims, especially women. How does the church justify (a) the closing of the order of Community Loyola, (b) the banishment of Mother General Ivanka Hosta to Portugal for three years, and (c) the punishment that she must travel to Fatima monthly to pray for Rupnik's victims?  Contrast Hosta's treatment with the fact that Rupnik remains a priest in good standing in Rome and enjoys a close relationship with Curia and the Pope.  


One must question the role of how the Vows of Obedience and the Seal of the Confessional play in covering up the crimes of the clergy. Time is up. We will not stand silently by and appear complicit in the abuse.

A Message to Our Good Priests: We Need You

To our good and holy priests: This website is not meant to paint all Catholic priests with Marko's tainted brush. 


There are so many good and holy priests who willingly sacrifice themselves every day to serve the children of God. We know you, and we are grateful to you. We need you. Where would we be without you? We can not lose you. You know who you are, and we know who you are. We admire you, respect you, and are indebted to you for your ability to be in persona Christi for us.


This sexual abuse scandal remains a stain on our Church, and it needs to be cleaned up.  We are grateful for your help and prayers to cleanse and restore our beautiful Church. Thank you.

A Call for Healing: The Church Must Act

REDEMPTION: An occasion when someone is saved from the evil of their sinfulness. The act of being saved from sin, error or evil.  (Cambridge Dictionary)


The Lord God desires redemption or the conversion of sinners. Jesus redeemed us as He gave up His life on the cross. The heavy lifting has been done. For us to enjoy the life-giving gift of redemption, we must CONFESS our sinfulness and ATONE for our sins.  


Fr. Marko Rupnik and the leadership of the Catholic Church must CONFESS this terrible sin against the children of God and must ATONE for the grievous harm done to the victims.


It may well be necessary for all of us to fast and pray for the redemption of our church and the conversion of sinners. Will you stand with us?  Will you pray with us?


Despite our disgust and contempt for Marko's sins, he is still worthy of redemption. Please pray for Fr. Marko Rupnik's redemption.

Accountability Now: The Church Must Change

The laity is standing up.  Here is what we demand:

  • The Catholic Church must publically and globally announce a Zero Tolerance Policy regarding sexual abuse by members of the clergy. When a member of the clergy has been found culpable after a legitimate investigation, they need to be expelled.
  • Laicize Marko Rupnik.
  • Eradicate Fr. Rupnik’s art from all church property worldwide.
  • Delete all source files of the digital versions of Rupnik’s art.
  • Cease using Rupnik's art in all Church documents.
  • Lift the sanctions against Sister Ivanka Hosta.

Prayer Cards in English, Italian & Slovene

Prayer cards in English, Italian, and Slovene

Pray for Rupnik's Victims

More Resoures


  • The Rupnik affair goes from scandalous to contemptible
  • The Father Rupnik Case: A Timeline
  •  Woman allegedly abused by disgraced former Jesuit Marko Rupnik speaks out for first time
  • Jesuit Priest Expelled After 30 Years Of Sexual, Spiritual Abuse
  • Former Jesuit Rupnik, accused of abusing women, welcomed into Slovenia diocese

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