In case you missed it (ICYMI), a 51-year-old Peruvian bishop, Ciro Quispe López, has resigned following shocking revelations that he allegedly maintained secret relationships with 17 women, including a nun and a lawyer, while also being investigated for misusing church funds.
López, who served as the Bishop of Juli in southern Peru, stepped down after a Vatican investigation uncovered evidence of the affairs, which reportedly spiraled into chaos when several of the women discovered each other.
Peruvian journalist Paola Ugaz told The Times that one of the bishop’s lovers — a nun — grew jealous of another woman, a lawyer, and leaked details of López’s romantic entanglements. “It was a real soap opera but also lifted the lid on a serious abuse of power,” Ugaz said, adding that many of the women were afraid to come forward.
The scandal reportedly came to light when López mistakenly sent intimate photos and videos intended for one of his mistresses to his cleaning lady, who then reported him to Church authorities.
Investigators found voice notes, images, and videos confirming the bishop’s relationships with multiple women. The probe also unearthed allegations of financial impropriety, including claims that López diverted church property — such as chairs — to a chicken restaurant chain called Patas Arriba, in which he allegedly had a financial stake.
Despite the mounting evidence, López has denied the allegations, describing them as part of a “defamation campaign by dark hands.”
The Vatican accepted his resignation last month — more than 20 years before the usual retirement age of 75 — as the case continues to raise concerns about misconduct and abuse of power within the Catholic Church in Peru.