Grubisic's independent slate won two seats in the new parliament, one of which was allocated to Grubisic.

The suspension is "a consequence of his active participation in politics by his establishment of a political party called "Citizens' Initiative" and by his acceptance of the mandate of a parliamentary deputy which also implies participation in the administration of civil authority; of inappropriate behaviour unbefitting the priestly calling; of his unremitting disobedience to his Ordinariate," the Split-Makarska Archdiocese said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement added that Father Ivan Grubisic remained entitled to receiving a pension just as other retired priests.

The Archbishop was forced to impose the disciplinary measures after all previous attempts by the Ordinariate to deter Father Grubisic from violating the Church's discipline in the run-up to the 4 December parliamentary election remained futile.

The penalties were ordered on 2 January after the Archbishop had consulted a council of consultants and acted in accordance with the canonical rules for the sake of the wellbeing of the Church.

The statement said that the Archbishops opted for disciplinary action after several warnings and talks with the priest who "persists in his disobedience".

"Ideas, although desirable and necessary in this society which Father Ivan Grubisic has advocated and on the basis of which he achieved his election result together with other participants in the elections, cannot be a justification for his active participation in politics."

"It is his duty as a priest to respect, first and foremost, the norms of his Church and not to violate them in order to achieve his own political goal," the statement said.