Ireland Online
March 24, 2010
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/pope-accepts-bishop-magees-resignation-451184.html
IRELAND -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of a senior Irish bishop who stood down over his mishandling of clerical child sex abuse allegations, it was confirmed today.
This announcement was made today in Rome at 12 noon local time (11am Irish time).
Scandal-hit former bishop of Cloyne John Magee, a one-time Vatican aide, quit the day-to-day running of parishes across rural Cork in March last year.
The cleric, from Newry, Co Down, faced scathing criticism after the church's own watchdog found he took minimal action on accusations against two of his priests and branded his child protection inadequate and dangerous.
The Catholic Church confirmed the Pope accepted his resignation at an announcement in the Vatican.
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In a statement, Magee said he wanted to sincerely apologise to victims of abuse in Cloyne.
"To those whom I have failed in any way, or through any omission of mine have made suffer, I beg forgiveness and pardon," he said.
He said he takes full responsibility for child protection failures and pledged to continue working with Judge Yvonne Murphy's inquiry into the handling of abuse allegations in the diocese.
"I also sincerely hope that the work and the findings of the Commission of Investigation will be of some help towards healing for those who have been abused," he said.
"I welcome the fact that my offer of resignation has been accepted, and I thank the priests, religious and faithful of the diocese for their support during my time as Bishop of Cloyne, and assure them of a place in my prayers always."
Bishop Magee, who served as private secretary to three different Popes, apologised when the watchdog's report was first published on the internet the week before Christmas 2008, but refused to resign.
His daily duties were taken over by Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of neighbouring Cashel and Emly, last year.
The Archbishop said: "I would like to thank Bishop John Magee for the cooperation he has given me since my appointment as apostolic administrator to the Diocese of Cloyne.
"I wish him all God's blessings in his retirement. I ask for the continued prayers and support of the lay faithful, priests and religious of the Diocese of Cloyne for all those who have suffered abuse."
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