2010-03-25 15:54:57

Pope accepts resignation of Irish Bishop Magee


( March 25,2010) Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Irish Bishop John Magee of Cloyne, more than a year after the bishop requested that an apostolic administrator be appointed to run the diocese. As he stepped down on Wednesday,(March 24), the 73-year-old Bishop offered an apology to victims of abuse by clergy in his diocese. The Vatican gave no reason for the Pope's acceptance of Bishop Magee's resignation, but cited Canon 401.2 of the Code of Canon Law, which states that "a diocesan bishop, who has become less able to fulfil his office because of ill health or some other grave cause, is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office."
In February 2009 Bishop Magee asked for an apostolic administrator to be appointed to oversee Cloyne so he could so that he could devote more time to a government inquiry into how his diocese carried out child protection policies and practices. The Vatican responded by naming Archbishop Dermott Clifford of Cashel as administrator.
Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, chairman of the Irish bishops' conference, acknowledged Bishop Mageeā€™s long and varied ministry in the church and thanked him for his contribution to the work of the Irish bishops' conference over the past 20 years. He assured Bishop Magee of his prayers and wished him good health in his retirement. Cardinal Brady stressed that foremost in his thoughts these days are those, who have suffered abuse by clergy, and those who feel angry and let down by the often inadequate response of leaders in the church.









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