Pope Benedict XVI has not accepted the resignations of two Irish bishops who resigned at Christmas!!

Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field announced their resignations on Christmas Eve 2009.

The pair, who were both auxiliary bishops of Dublin, said they hoped their resignations would help bring peace to the victims of sexual abuse.

They were bishops during the period covered by the Murphy Commission which examined abuse in the Dublin diocese.

Better something, rather than nothing. In fact, these two, and every other Irish Bishop in that period MUST be investigated by the Police or the Judiciary.

Mind you, given that the Irish Police at the time actively assisted the RCC to conceal these crimes against humanity makes it unlikely that they will do ‘the right thing’, and put thousands still living coppers into prison.

The Murphy Commission mentioned five bishops in its report, criticising them for their handling of allegations of abuse against clergy.

Bishops Walsh and Field were the third and fourth to offer their resignations.

Resignations are merely the first step down a very steep road.

One might ask one’s self exactly what is Joe the Rat thinking? Another ‘relocation’ of abuse-abetting Bishops in place of civil prosecutions?

Does he imagine that no-one will notice? Or is he so power-mad batshit-crazy that he just doesn’t care?

On Wednesday, the Irish Catholic newspaper said it had seen a letter sent to priests in the Dublin diocese by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin telling them of the Pope’s decision.

“Following the presentation of their resignations to Pope Benedict, it has been decided that Bishop Eamonn Walsh and Bishop Raymond Field will remain as Auxiliary bishops,” the letter read.

I wonder what their reactions were?

Deirdre Kenny of the One in Four group, which offers support to survivors of sexual abuse, said it appeared to be an “extraordinary decision by the Vatican”.

Understatement of the millennium!

Update: A long article from Ireland’s Independent Newspaper:

John Cooney: Latest Papal diktat spells doom for people’s church