Friday, May 07, 2010

Pope accepts resignation of Bishop Duffy

Pope Benedict has accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph Duffy, who has stepped down after reaching the age limit of 75 and whose name was tied to the cover-up of a paedophile priest.

Bishop Duffy has admitted he was aware of accusations of abuse against a paedophile priest working in his diocese of Clogher, but did not turn him into the police, allegedly upon the victim's parents' request.

The pope has named Liam McDaid as the head of the Clogher diocese, while also accepting the resignation of the auxiliary bishop of the Derry diocese Francis Lagan, who also passed the age limit.

Bishop Duffy was among the Irish bishops received by Benedict in February after an investigation revealed evidence of massive abuse inside the Irish Church.

The investigation found Church leaders in Ireland did not report abuse to police until the 1990s as part of a culture of secrecy and an over-riding wish to avoid damaging the reputation of the Catholic Church.

Similar revelations have rocked the Catholic Church in the United States and Europe in recent months.

This brings the number up to seven Irish bishops or auxiliary bishops who have been involved in the scandal have tendered their resignations.

The pope has accepted four of them.

SIC: RTÉ