A Romanian Orthodox bishop resigned Friday after a discussion with church officials about a video that showed him having sex with a male seminary student.
Bishop of Husi Corneliu Barladeanu discussed the video with the Holy Synod, which governs the Romanian Orthodox Church, Thursday and Friday before deciding to resign as bishop, according to AFP. The video surfaced in July and depicts Barladeanu engaging in sexual acts with a 17-year-old male seminary student. Barladeanu claimed innocence but left his position “for the peace and the good of the Church.”
The Holy Synod’s two day discussion of the scandal was the first formal confrontation of a sex scandal in the Synod’s history of 92 years. The meeting came after church officials expelled a priest in northwest Romania in July who also allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a 17 year old, according to Christianity Today.
The church chose not to pursue disciplinary measures against Barladeanu as doing so would prolong “for a long time the uncertainty within his diocese.” Barladeanu will remain a monk, but he will have no office beyond that. The Holy Synod forbade him from partaking in the Eucharist going forward.
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