New Documentary Details Vatican's Delayed Response To Predatory Priest

A documentary titled Nuns vs. The Vatican premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September, addressing Father Marko Rupnik's alleged abuse of consecrated women, the impact on two of his victims, and the Church’s delayed response to the claims. Rupnik, a co-founder of the Loyola Community in Slovenia, is accused of sexually, psychologically, and spiritually abusing multiple women in the 1980s and 1990s. The film centers on testimonies from former community members Gloria Branciani, Mirjam Kovac, and Klara (who is only identified by her first name), detailing the abuse and how it was tied to Rupnik’s religious art.

Branciani recounts how Rupnik allegedly groomed and abused her, with the Church offering no support and even punishing her when she raised concerns. The documentary argues that Rupnik was shielded by the Vatican, where he gained prominence in the 1990s, and critiques the Vatican's inadequate handling of abuse claims. Interviews with experts, including abuse survivors, psychologists, and journalists, highlight the Church’s ongoing failure to address clerical sexual abuse.

The documentary features no contributions from the Vatican, and Rupnik and other key figures, such as Ivanka Hosta, declined comment. Advocates, including Barbara Dorris from SNAP, criticized the Church’s long-standing protection of abusive clergy. Nuns vs. The Vatican will continue screening at various North American film festivals, with plans to push for a screening at the Vatican. The documentary also mentions that the Vatican removed Rupnik’s art from its official websites earlier this year.