UTV
August 11 2010
http://www.u.tv/News/Pope-rejects-bishops-resignations/365453f3-7ca6-44c1-be97-8ed31b68e14b
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Pope Benedict XVI has decided not to accept the resignation of two Dublin bishops, who stood down in the wake of the Murphy report into 30 years of child abuse.
Bishops Raymond Field and Eamonn Walsh resigned on Christmas Day 2009.
They bowed to weeks of intense criticism and pressure, announcing their resignation as auxiliaries in the archdiocese as Midnight Mass took place around the country.
Both bishops had initially resisted calls to quit.
On Wednesday, the Irish Catholic newspaper revealed it had seen a letter written by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to priests in the Dublin diocese, explaining the pope's decision.
"Following the presentation of their resignations to Pope Benedict, it has been decided that Bishop Eamonn Walsh and Bishop Raymond Field will remain as Auxiliary bishops and are to be assigned revised responsibilities within the diocese," Archbishop Martin's letter reads.
"This means that they will be available to administer confirmation in any part of the diocese in the coming year", the letter continues.
A spokeswoman for Archbishop Martin confirmed the contents of the letter.
The Vatican has not commented on the decision.
The 2009 Murphy report exposed the Catholic hierarchy's shocking inaction and cover-up of paedophile priests in the Dublin Archdiocese over three decades.
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