Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of NSW bishop Michael
John Malone, the Vatican says, following child abuse scandals in his
Maitland-Newcastle diocese.
"The Holy Father Benedict XVI has accepted the
renunciation of pastoral authority in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
in Australia presented by Monsignor Michael John Malone," the Vatican
said in a statement on Monday.
Malone has been head of the diocese since 1995 but had
talked about his exhaustion in recent months following a series of
allegations of child abuse by clergymen in the diocese that dated back
to before his nomination.
Critics say the Catholic Church had tried to hush up cases of paedophilia.
The local Newcastle Herald newspaper earlier this year
quoted the bishop as saying: "I'm emotionally drained by what has
happened and feel disillusioned".
The 71-year-old was also quoted as saying that he was
considering early retirement before the official pension age for
Catholic bishops of 75.