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	Pope Accepts Aust Bishop's Resignation Sydney Morning Herald April 4, 2011 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/pope-accepts-aust-bishops-resignation-20110404-1cys5.html Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of NSW bishop Michael John Malone, the Vatican says, following child abuse scandals in his Maitland-Newcastle diocese. "The Holy Father Benedict XVI has accepted the renunciation of pastoral authority in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in Australia presented by Monsignor Michael John Malone," the Vatican said in a statement on Monday. Malone has been head of the diocese since 1995 but had talked about his exhaustion in recent months following a series of allegations of child abuse by clergymen in the diocese that dated back to before his nomination. Advertisement: Story continues below Critics say the Catholic Church had tried to hush up cases of paedophilia. The local Newcastle Herald newspaper earlier this year quoted the bishop as saying: "I'm emotionally drained by what has happened and feel disillusioned". The 71-year-old was also quoted as saying that he was considering early retirement before the official pension age for Catholic bishops of 75.
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