Bishop John Magee handed in his resignation to Pope Benedcit XVI on Wednesday due to his failure to report child-molesting clergy under his authority to the police. The resignation was accepted by the Pope.
Along with his resignation, the 73 year-old Bishop issued an apology to victims of these pedophile priests. "To those whom I have failed in any way, or through any omission of mine have made suffer, I beg forgiveness and pardon."
The Bishop’s resignation marks another step in extensive defensive maneuevers the Vatican is presently involved in over accusations that they have been protecting child-abusers for too long. Just last week the Pope himself issues an unprecedented letter to Ireland which addressed the almost 20 years of cover-up scandals there.
Ireland, however, is not the only European country to be demanding answers from the Vatican.
Also, on Wednesday the German government announced a strong panel of experts to investigate the extent of pedophile activity in Catholic and other institutions for children. This could well open the door for abuse victims to pursue clergy and other church officials for civil damages and criminal liability, the Washington Post said.
(Read the full story at http://washingtonpost.com/faith Image portrays a man walking past the Papal Cross in Dublin's Phoenix Park.)