Love is wonderful and love is weird. When they say opposites attract, they probably never knew just how opposite some couples might be. For example, if someone said to you, “Did you hear about the bishop that fell in love with and married a satanic erotic novelist?” you would probably think it was the setup for a joke. It turns out that this really happened not too long ago.
The Bishop
Xavier Novell i Goma became the youngest bishop in Spain at the age of 41 when appointed to Solsona in Catalan, in 2010. During his time as a bishop, he was extremely conservative and backed controversial and, many claim, dangerous, conversion therapy techniques. He was also outspoken when it came to regional independence in Catalan. The bishop has also performed exorcisms to help rid people of the devil inside. The bishop has done a lot.
However, no one saw what was coming in the bishop’s life just a decade later. At the end of August 2021, he resigned from his post. At the time, no one knew why he had retired, as he just told people it was for personal reasons. Often, when a priest or bishop suddenly retires, it’s usually for behavior that’s frowned upon, or downright illegal and immoral in some cases.
However, the bishop did not do anything illegal. Instead, he fell in love, which is strictly forbidden for someone in his holy vocation within the Catholic church. However, he didn’t fall in love with just anyone. He fell in love with a woman named Silvia Caballol.
The Devil in Disguise
Who is Silvia Caballol? She is a clinical psychologist who also happens to be a novelist. Caballol was born in 1983 and is 14 years younger than the bishop. At first, you might think that it is a bit scandalous, but these sorts of things happen from time to time, and there isn’t too much of a gap in their ages, and they are both consenting adults.
However, what makes this story so salacious is the type of fiction she writes. She is the author of erotic novels that tend to have Satanic undertones (and overtones) to them. Some of the novels she’s written include Gabriel’s Hell of Lust and the Amnesia trilogy. By all accounts, she’s a good and entertaining writer.
Given the fact that the bishop was known for being an exorcist, you can see why this story stands out, since she writes satanic fiction and erotica. Those are two things that priests and others in the Catholic church aren’t supposed to like. Truth be told, this story is like the overarching plot of a show you might see on the CW, or perhaps you would prefer a grittier version on HBO. Regardless, the story is interesting.
What Happened to the Bishop?
The allure of the author was enough to make the bishop step down from his role in the church. He wanted to spend more time with her. In November of 2021, he had a civil marriage to Caballol. Under the rules of the church, he keeps his title, but in name only. It means that he cannot conduct any of the rights of the office and can’t perform duties or functions that he could as a priest. Essentially, he forfeited his powers after he was married.
Caballol has not had many changes in her life. Her publisher is still pleased with her work, and they must be happy with the increased publicity the books are getting thanks to her relationship with the bishop.
So, what happens now? What does the future hold for the holy man and the devilish writer? Will he become less conservative? Will she continue to write books with Satanic themes? The marriage is still just a few months old at the time of this writing, but hopefully, things work out well for the couple.
You can also read: Danelo Cavalcante’s Daring Prison Escape Captured on CCTV
Love can hit you out of the blue, and it doesn’t matter if you are a man of the cloth or not. Just be ready to change jobs if your boss, like the Pope, isn’t cool with it.
