Catholic priest accused of inviting nun to join ‘Holy Trinity' threesome

Apriest in the Catholic church has become embroiled in a scandal amid reports he allegedly invited two other members of the church to a threesome. Marko Ivan Rupnik, known to be close to Pope Francis, is believed to have invited two nuns to engage in the act. The allegations come after one of the nuns whom he invited to take part reported it. It comes amid fears the allegations will heap significant embarrassment on the Pope who is close to the priest. The latest allegations add to other accusations of sexual misconduct dating back decades.

The recent allegation emerged on Sunday in one of Rome's newspapers after an unnamed nun came forward and claimed Rupnik had groomed her.

She also claimed that Rupnik has also taken her virginity and bullied her into silence in Slovenia in the 1980s and 1990s.

The nun told the Domani newspaper: "Father Marko started slowly and sweetly getting inside my psychological and spiritual world, exploiting my uncertainties and fragility."

She added that he allegedly asked her and another nun to have sex with him and that he explained this would replicate the three-way relationship the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus.

Furthermore, she claimed that Rupnik had abused "nearly 20" nuns and that her complaints were ignored.

Priest Rupnik and the Vatican.© Getty Images

Realisation of a 160 square metres mosaic fresco for the facade of Lourdes Basilica in Rome, Italy on November 16, 2007.© Getty

In response, the Jesuit order asked any victims to come forward and promised: "You will be listed to with understanding and with empathy."

It comes after Rupnik was accused of sexual misconduct in Slovenia in the 1990s, but which only came to light earlier this month.

When asked for comment, the priest's order said the Vatican had investigated Rupnik, but had ruled that the statute of limitations applied.

A statue of limitations is a law passed by a legislative body which sets a maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be started.

In the case of Rupnik, his actions fell outside of this window and he was not punished.

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-AUDIENCE© Getty

Just a days later, the head of the order said Rupnik had been excommunicated in May 2020 for using a confessional to declare free from guilt a woman with whom he had had relations.

In the context of the Vatican, an excommunication is when someone is excluded from taking part in sacraments and services of the Christian church.

In Rupnik's case, the excommunication was lifted later that month after Rupnik repented.

The allegations follow a run of poor responses say experts.

One expert, Father Hans Zoller, said: "This has been handled badly since the 1990s and there are many questions to be answered."

Meanwhile, Vatican correspondent for L'Espresso, Sandro Magister said: "The matter for which Rupnik was excommunicated was very serious, and the subsequent lifting of that excommunication had to be ordered by the Pope or at the very least approved by him.

"That doesn't surprise me since Francis has previously taken decisions which go against those already taken at the Vatican."