Pope Benedict XVI is to accept the resignation of a German Catholic bishop, Walter Mixa of Augsburg, on Saturday, according to a newspaper website which quoted "church sources."In a mounting crisis for the church, authorities said earlier Friday they were investigating a claim that Mixa may have sexually abused a minor.
He submitted his resignation on April 21 amid uproar over his two- week-long denial that he had slapped teenagers.
Die Welt said the Vatican would announce at noon Saturday that it was accepting the resignation.
That would be a swift response for the church, which usually takes many months to deal with resignation requests from bishops.
But the sources denied the Vatican move was in response to the sex allegations.
Germany has 27 bishops, the most senior rank of local clergy.
Germany's ZDF television news also reported that Vatican acceptance of Mixa's departure was imminent.
SIC: ETEXT