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.
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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