Cardinal Donald Wuerl says he will go to the pope soon to discuss his potential resignation
Source: The Washington Post
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who has faced increasing calls for his resignation over his handling of sexual abuse cases, wrote on Tuesday that he will soon discuss with Pope Francis the possibility of stepping down as leader of the Archdiocese of Washington.
Wuerl did not say in his letter to priests whether he will ask Francis to accept his resignation, which he submitted three years ago at the customary retirement age of 75. But he acknowledged that many Catholics have questions about their bishop’s ability to lead them in the midst of the exploding sexual abuse crisis in the church, and he said he would be discussing his resignation with the pope.
“At issue is how to begin effectively to bring a new level of healing to survivors who have personally suffered so much and to the faithful entrusted to our care who have also been wounded by the shame of these terrible actions and have questions about their bishop’s ability to provide the necessary leadership,” Wuerl wrote to the priests of the Archdiocese of Washington.
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