la-fg-0509-vatican-abuse-20100509
Vatican City
— Pope Benedict XVI formally accepted an offer of resignation from a leading German bishop who has acknowledged slapping children, and is being investigated for sexual abuse and financial misconduct.
Bishop Walter Mixa, head of the Augsburg diocese, was an outspoken conservative voice in the German church. His posting to Augsburg in summer 2005 was among the first appointments the German-born Benedict made after assuming the papacy.
The terse Vatican announcement only said the decision was in line with provisions for bishops no longer fit for service.
Mixa, 69, had offered to step down in April amid persistent allegations that he hit children while a priest decades ago, and of financial irregularities at a children's home for which he was responsible.
Pressure on the Vatican increased Friday, when the Augsburg diocese said, without further details, that it had given prosecutors information in line with German church guidelines for handling sex abuse cases.
His lawyer, Gerhard Decker, said Mixa "resolutely rejects these accusations."
Currently there are no comments. Be the first to comment!