Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala has resigned after disclosing to superiors that he is the father of two children.

The Vatican announced the bishop's resignation Jan. 4 in a one-line statement that cited Church law on resignation for illness or other serious reasons.

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez announced the "sad and difficult" news in a letter to Catholics in the archdiocese.

He said Zavala had informed him in early December that he is the father of two minor teenage children who live with their mother in another state.

Since that time, Zavala has not been in ministry and "will be living privately," Gomez said.

"The archdiocese has reached out to the mother and children to provide spiritual care as well as funding to assist the children with college costs."