Irish Bishop Quits Over Child Sex Scandal

The bishop of Limerick is offering his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI today in the wake of a damning report on the church's cover up of multiple child sexual abuse cases. Donal Murray acted "inexcusably" in one case and handled others badly, the report concluded. The report has caused widespread public anger in Ireland and more resignations are expected to follow Murray's, the Independent reports.

The two highest-ranking Catholics in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Marti, have been summoned to the Vatican this week to discuss the report with the pontiff. Brady has promised to resign if it's found that any child was abused as the result of failings on his part. The Irish government has expressed "deep disappointment" at the Vatican's failure to offer a detailed response to the report.
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