The Vatican has suspended the beatification process of Argentine Bishop Jorge Novak (1928–2001) in October 2025, the Diocese of Quilmes announced on April 4.
Vatican Cardinal Marcello Semeraro revoked the nihil obstat , the authorization to proceed the cause, opened in 2017.
The Diocese of Quilmes received the news "sadly". Monsignor Novak was a staunch liberal with lots of "options for the poor".
The Vatican cited concerns about Novak’s handling of a priest under his authority.
The most substantiated case potentially linked to the Vatican’s decision involves Fr. Rubén Horacio Pardo of Quilmes, although the Vatican has not officially identified the priest in question. He was accused of abusing a 15-year-old boy in 2002.
According to reporting at the time, the victim’s mother stated that several priests had warned Bishop Novak prior to Pardo’s ordination, raising concerns about his suitability for the priesthood. Despite these warnings, Novak ordained the homosexual man.
In 2013, the Diocese of Quilmes was ordered to pay damages in connection with the abuse case.
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