ROME – When Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Spanish bishop for “strictly personal reasons” two weeks ago, speculation was rampant as to why, with several news sites claiming the pontiff had fired him for his support of the independence of Catalonia.

Yet, according to several reports coming from Spain this week, the former bishop of Solsona, Xavier Novell, 52, “freely” resigned to the episcopacy for a woman, who works as a psychologist and author of erotic novels.

Novell has already moved from his diocese to Manresa, where Silvia Caballol, 38, lives. He’s looking for a job, since the former prelate is also an agricultural engineer. The Vatican’s Aug. 23 decree announcing that he had his resignation as bishop of Solsona accepted did not mention him leaving the priesthood.

“Bishop Novell took the decision after a time of reflection, discernment and prayer, at the end of which he spontaneously…