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	Pope Sanctions Bishop of Cloyne's Departure By Barry Roche The Irish Times March 25, 2010 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0325/1224267012113.html POPE BENEDICT XVI yesterday accepted the resignation of former papal secretary John Magee as Bishop of Cloyne, Co Cork. Dr Magee apologised to anyone who may have been abused by any priest while he was in charge of the diocese. In a statement Bishop Magee (73) said he had tendered his resignation to the pope on March 9th and yesterday he had been informed that the pontiff had accepted it. “As I depart, I want to offer once again my sincere apologies to any person who has been abused by any priest of the diocese of Cloyne during my time as bishop or at any time,” said Bishop Magee, who was ordained bishop of Cloyne on March 17th, 1987. “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, adding he took full responsibility for criticisms of his management of child protection issues in the diocese. In December 2008, the diocese published a report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church chief executive, Ian Elliott. It found that child protection measures in the diocese had been seriously deficient. “Most alarmingly, it fails to focus on the needs of the vulnerable child and the requirement to take preventative actions quickly and effectively to secure their wellbeing,” Mr Elliott noted. “Children have been placed at risk of harm within the diocese of Cloyne through the inability of that diocese to respond appropriately to the information that came to it regarding child protection concerns involving the clergy,” he added. “It failed to act effectively to limit the access to children by individuals against whom a credible complaint of child sex abuse was made . . . put simply, the responses of the diocese could be described as ill-advised and too little, too late.” Last March, Bishop Magee stood down from administrative duties in Cloyne to allow him concentrate on co-operating with the Government Commission of Investigation by Judge Yvonne Murphy into child protection procedures in the Cloyne diocese. Bishop Magee reiterated his availability to the commission.“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.” Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady paid tribute to Bishop Magee for his contribution to the work of the Irish Bishops Conference over the past 20 years, particularly in the area of liturgy. Assuring Bishop Magee of his prayers and wishing him good health in his retirement, Cardinal Brady acknowledged the hurt caused by clerical child sex abuse and the frequent failure of church leaders to deal with the problem. “However, foremost in my thoughts in these days are those who have suffered abuse by clergy and those who feel angry and let down by the often inadequate response of leaders in the church,” he said. Since March 2009, the diocese has been administered by Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dr Dermot Clifford. Archbishop Clifford thanked Bishop Magee for his co-operation since taking over the running of the diocese which covers north, east and mid-Cork. “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,” the archbishop said. The Irish Times understand that gardai are carrying out separate investigations into allegations of child sexual abuse by four priests in the diocese. The Garda is also investigating a fifth allegation of sexual assault made by a young woman against another priest who has since left the priesthood.
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