DUBLIN – Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has told priests that the Vatican has rejected the resignations of his two auxiliary bishops following their reported involvement in the Catholic Church's cover-up of child abuse.
The Vatican's refusal deals a blow to Martin. He has led Irish Catholic calls for the church to account fully for its concealment of decades of child abuse by priests.
Martin sought the resignations of his Dublin deputies, Eamonn Walsh and Ray Field, after an Irish government-authorized investigation in November criticized them for failing to tell civil authorities about abuse cases in the 1990s. Both initially rejected criticisms, then announced resignations on Christmas Eve.
An AP reporter saw a copy of Martin's letter sent this week to Dublin priests.
The Vatican's refusal deals a blow to Martin. He has led Irish Catholic calls for the church to account fully for its concealment of decades of child abuse by priests.
Martin sought the resignations of his Dublin deputies, Eamonn Walsh and Ray Field, after an Irish government-authorized investigation in November criticized them for failing to tell civil authorities about abuse cases in the 1990s. Both initially rejected criticisms, then announced resignations on Christmas Eve.
An AP reporter saw a copy of Martin's letter sent this week to Dublin priests.