Female bishop calls for Pope’s resignation

A LAOIS-born woman Catholic bishop has called for the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and has called on parishioners to stop giving money to the Church.

Rathdowney born Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan is the first Irish woman Catholic Bishop since the fifth century.

While visiting Laois last week, Bishop Meehan called for people to cease propping up the beleaguered Catholic Church and stop giving money to it.

Bishop Meehan also likened the Vatican to the mafia and called on the Pope to resign.

“He should resign, given that the Vatican has acted like a crime family. I mean, honest to God, the mafia has nothing on them. What did the Murphy report say?

The Vatican was at the bottom of it. The Murphy report was brilliant and courageous.

‘‘The Vatican knew about this and they continued to keep it going. Did they fire one bishop? What other church would get away with hiding criminals? What other religion would do it? They would be in jail doing hard time. It’s an abuse of spiritual power and that is really a deadly sin. Never, ever mess with people’s faith,” she said.

Bishop Meehan said the money people hand over to the Church will just end up footing legal bills in civil cases relating to child sexual abuse.

“They’re just going to pay off the lawyers with it,” she said.

SIC: LNIE