A priest serving in the town of Urrugne, in the Basque Country, has been suspended from all pastoral duties following an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct with a minor. The information was announced by the Bishop of Bayonne, Mgr. Marc Aillet, in a statement released on Sunday.
Father Xavier Zabaleta, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, had been serving in the Diocese of Bayonne since September 2022. The reported events, however, did not take place in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques but in the Béziers region, where the priest had previously served.
An ongoing judicial investigation
According to the diocese, the Archbishop of Montpellier reported to the public prosecutor in Béziers in June 2024 what he described as "acts contrary to the sixth commandment involving a minor." Archbishop Aillet stated that he was officially informed of this procedure in March 2026.
At the request of the Béziers public prosecutor's office, no disciplinary action had been taken before the priest was questioned by police on June 3. The priest is currently contesting the accusations against him, while the judicial investigation continues to establish the exact circumstances of the alleged events.
Immediate suspension of religious functions
Pending the outcome of the legal proceedings, the diocese has decided to prohibit him from any public ministry and from celebrating the sacrament of confession. These precautionary measures aim to guarantee the protection of the faithful and to allow the investigation to proceed smoothly.
Furthermore, as the agreement between Father Xavier Zabaleta and the Diocese of Bayonne has expired, he has been relieved of his local duties and returned to his religious congregation in Béziers. The congregation will now be responsible for monitoring his progress during the ongoing legal proceedings.
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