Your gift counts double until 5/31: $26,329 to go in our Easter Campaign. Please help now!

Pope accepts resignation of Irish bishop, former papal secretary

CWN - March 24, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of an Irish bishop whose handling of sex-abuse complaints drew intense criticism from public officials and from his fellow bishops.

Bishop John Magee of Cloyne tendered his resignation on March 9, apparently at the request of the Holy See. The Vatican announced on March 24 that the bishop's resignation had been accepted. Bishop Magee had come under fire late in 2008 when a report by the independent National Safeguarding Board for Children said that the Cloyne diocese had put children at risk by failing to confront clerical abusers.

Several Irish bishops, as well as government leaders, quickly began pressing for Bishop Magee's resignation. In March 2009, reacting to those requests, Pope Benedict removed Bishop Magee from active control of the Cloyne diocese and appointed an apostolic administrator, Bishop Dermot Clifford, to handle diocesan affairs.

Before his appointment to the Cloyne diocese, Bishop Magee had served at the Vatican, where he was a personal secretary to three Popes: Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II.

Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus:

Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you!

Easter Campaign:
Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($26,329 to go):
$80,000.00 $53,670.55
33% 67%
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

Show 1 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: Don Vicente - Mar. 24, 2010 10:50 PM ET USA

    According to the Vatican website, the resignation is another Canon 401 section 2 resignation.

Catholic World News Email Newsletter
Donate to Support this Site: Your contribution will be put to good work.
Tour the CatholicCulture.org Site
Shop Amazon to Raise Money for Catholic Culture

Recent Catholic Commentary

That impromptu exorcism again 1 hours ago
The Mystery of the Spirit 16 hours ago
Against a Facile Assurance of Salvation, the Need for Mystery 17 hours ago
Making Sense of Society: The Ebook 22 hours ago
An exorcism? No, a blessing. You'd think reporters would know the difference. May 21

Top Catholic News

Most Important Stories of the Last 30 Days
Pope strongly supports call for reform in religious life CWN - May 8