Vatican City, Apr 22, 2010 / 08:12 am
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of another Irish bishop implicated in the Irish government's Murphy Report. Bishop Jim Moriarty, who has officially been relieved of his assignment as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, expressed his hope that his resignation would honor survivors and create a better future.
The announcement from the Holy See on Thursday was quickly followed by statements from Cardinal Sean Brady and Bishop Moriarty himself through official Irish Bishops' Conference channels.
The resignation is the third accepted by the Holy Father from an Irish bishop in the last five months together with those of Bishops Donal Murray of Limerick and John Magee of Cloyne.
Bishop Moriarty said Thursday that for the Catholic Church in Ireland, "renewal must begin with accepting responsibility for the past."