Pope accepts resignation of Philadelphia's archbishop amid sex abuse scandal

Vatican City :  Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Philadelphia archbishop Cardinal Justin Rigali today, sending him into retirement as the archdiocese faces accusations that it covered up a long-running priest sex abuse scandal.

The pope named Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, of the US bishops conservative wing, to succeed him. The brief Vatican announcement said the resignation of the 76-year-old Rigali was because of his age. He submitted it on his 75th birthday in April 2010, as required by church law, but the pope did not immediately act on it.

Rigali has been under pressure for his handling of the scandal. A 2005 grand jury report charged that he and his predecessor hid credible sex-abuse complaints made against dozens of Philadelphia priests.  After eight years under Rigali’s leadership, the archdiocese is defending unprecedented criminal charges filed against a former secretary of clergy for allegedly transferring paedophile priests without warning new parishes.

Earlier this year, the head of the archdiocese’s lay review panel on abuse, Ana Maria Catanzaro, said Rigali and his bishops “failed miserably at being open and transparent” when dealing with accused priests.  The scandal has surfaced twice during his tenure as head of the archdiocese of nearly 1.5 million people.

The Philadelphia grand jury that recommended the criminal charges this year faulted Rigali for keeping many area priests in active ministry despite credible allegations of sexual abuse.

And a 2005 grand jury report charged that Rigali and his predecessor hid credible sex-abuse complaints made against dozens of Philadelphia priests. The archdiocese called the first report “a vile, mean-spirited diatribe,” though Rigali apologised to victims in a letter to parishioners.

Rigali, a former archbishop of St. Louis, spent three decades as a Vatican diplomat and high-level administrator and has kept his close contacts in Rome.

Chaput, 66, is known as an outspoken US bishop who has criticised Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, speaks out against government playing too big a role in health care and opposes gay marriage and stem-cell research.

AP