The fallout from the Catholic child sex abuse scandal spread across Europe as Pope Benedict today accepted the resignation of an Irish Bishop James Moriarty, a German bishop expressed his desire to resign and prelates in England and Wales apologised for their incedent indiscretions, calling them "terrible crimes" of priests.
In a statement, the Vatican announced that the revered Pontiff, who is under fire for not acting in time over the whole issue, had accepted Moriarty's resignation. Moriarty is the third Irish bishop to step down since the nws about the scandals came out in open. "I accept that from the time I became an auxiliary bishop, I should have challenged the prevailing culture. I apologise to all survivors and their families," said Moriarty, who was the auxiliary bishop of Dublin from 1991 to 2002. Notably, the child protection policies were not implemented at that time.
Walter Mixa, a bishop for Augsburg, Germany offered to step down after admitting he was involved in incidences of child abuse. Mixa was also the bishop for the German armed forces. "With his resignation, he wants to avert further damage to the Church and to allow a new start," the Augsburg diocese said in a statement.
Recently, victims of child abuse from across the Europe and US have come out in open seeking justice from Pope Benedict. The head of the Irish Church, Cardinal Sean Brady, is also facing pressure to quit over his role in covering up a child abuse case in 1975.
