Pope accepts Irish bishop's resignation

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray of Ireland. Formerly an auxiliary bishop in Dublin, the bishop had been under pressure to quit since the publication of the Murphy Report into clerical child abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese. The Murphy Report knocked Murray for allegedly failing to deal with allegations about clerical sexual abuse of children.

In a statement, Bishop Murray said that he had taken time to study the Murphy Report before coming to his decision while spending ten days with officials in the Vatican as he weighed his future. Bishop Murray said 'I know full well that my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day."

"I humbly apologise once again to all who were abused as little children. To all survivors of abuse, I repeat that my primary concern is to assist in every way that I can on their journey towards finding closure and serenity."

The prelate said further, "I asked the Holy Father to allow me to resign and to appoint a new bishop to the diocese because I believe that my presence will create difficulties for some of the survivors who must have first place in our thoughts and prayers."

Bishop Murray met with the Congregation of Bishops in Rome on December 7 and it was decided that he should resign. Pope Benedict XVI accepted Murray's resignation on December 14, but it was agreed that Bishop Murray should return to Limerick to allow him be in his diocese when the announcement was made.

Bishop Murray apologised in person to the congregation at St John's Cathedral in Limerick.

Bishop James Moriarty of Kildare and Leiglin said that he would not resign over the Murphy Report's criticism of his part in handling an abuse case. Nonetheless, Bishop Moriarity added that no bishop should put his own interests before those of the Church that he serves.