ARGENTINA
Reuters
Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:39 AM BST
By Kevin Grey
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - A prominent Argentine Roman Catholic bishop has resigned amid media reports that he was involved sexually with a young man, the latest in a series of such scandals involving church officials.
The Argentine Episcopal Conference, the governing body of the church in this predominantly Catholic country, said Juan Carlos Maccarone, 64, bishop in the northwestern province of Santiago del Estero, had stepped down.
The statement, issued on Monday, did not give the reason.
La Nacion and Clarin newspapers said Maccarone had resigned because of a sexual relationship with a 23-year-old man which had been captured on videotape.
Clarin said Maccarone asked his closest collaborators to forgive him "for damage inflicted on the Church."
Repeated calls to Maccarone's office went unanswered.