Two Irish Bishops Resign

The Irish bishop who admitted to covering up decades of abuse against children by Catholic priests announced his resignation Wednesday, becoming the highest-ranking official to be tarnished by the scandal. John Magee, 73, was the private secretary to three popes and was appointed the Vatican's master of ceremonies by John Paul II. He resigned that post a year ago when a church report exposed him for failing to report two priests who were abusing children—he knew of the complaints against them in 1995, but didn't alert police until 2003. Bishop of Limerick Donald Brendan Murray also saw his resignation accepted by the pope. Three more who have offered to step down await the pontiff's decision.