( 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 Mageeās 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.