Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop John Magee, who stepped aside as Bishop of Cloyne a year ago after an independent report found he had failed to respond adequately to child abuse claims in Country Cork.
It’s a miserable end to the career of a man who was once private secretary to Popes Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II. It was Magee who was supposed to have discovered the body of John Paul I in 1978, though it later emerged that a nun had found the pontiff dead in his bedroom. The Vatican, in its wisdom, thought it was more “appropriate” that a priest should be named as the discoverer. As Magee has since put it: “I did find the body of His Holiness. I just didn’t find it first.” All theories that John Paul I were murdered are, incidentally, the most utter nonsense.
Anyway, all eyes now should be on Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh. I would be surprised if the Pope did not accept his resignation, too ”“ though it looks as if we shall have to wait until after Easter for a decision.
From the article: “It was Magee who was supposed to have discovered the body of John Paul I in 1978, though it later emerged that a nun had found the pontiff dead in his bedroom.”
That reminds me: Who first discovered that Jesus was not in His tomb? Peter, or Mary Magdalene? It depends on whom you ask!