Reuters, by Philip Pullella and Jonathan Allen: The Vatican said on Wednesday [November 27th] that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, who has been at the center of a sex abuse crisis in his diocese.
The Vatican said Francis had appointed the bishop of Albany, Edward Scharfenberger, to administer the Buffalo diocese until a new bishop can be appointed.
Malone, 73, who has been under pressure to resign for years, is stepping down two years before the normal retirement date for bishops.
Malone, who met with the pope last month, has been accused of covering up or mishandling the abuse of dozens of minors by priests in his diocese.
He has denied the accusations and until recently said he would not be stepping down early.
He acknowledged “tremendous turmoil” in his diocese in a statement on Wednesday.
“Some have attributed this to my own shortcomings, but the turmoil also reflects the culmination of systemic failings over many years in the worldwide handling of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy,” his statement said.
He said he had made mistakes in not addressing what he described as personnel issues more swiftly and that he was retiring early voluntarily but would continue to live in Buffalo.
Prophetic Link:
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.” Revelation 17:4, 5.