VATICAN CITY
Church Militant
by Richard Ducayne • ChurchMilitant.com • July 6, 2016
VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com) – A Brazilian archbishop accused of shielding sexually abusive priests has resigned. Among other things, Pagotto has also allegedly been involved in a homosexual relationship with an 18-year-old.
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Abp. Aldo di Cillo Pagotto of Paraiba Wednesday under canon 401 §2 of the Catholic Code of Canon Law, which states, “A diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office.”
The Vatican gave few details of the resignation. “Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Paraíba (Brazil), presented by Mons. Aldo di Cillo Pagotto, SSS, in accordance with can. 401 §2 of the Code of Canon Law,” read the official statement on the Vatican website.
Pagotto, who is 66 years old, allegedly allowed priests and seminarians into his diocese who had been accused of sex abuse after they had been expelled by other bishops from other dioceses. He was also blamed for refusing to discuss the issue of sex abuse in the Church.
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