Bishops accused of lobbying Pope on lack of responsibility over abuse

A LEADING Vatican correspondent has suggested the two Irish bishops, whose resignations were not accepted by the Pope this week, wrote to the pontiff highlighting they had no responsibility in the handling of abuse cases.

As calls continued yesterday for Dublin auxiliary bishops Eamonn Walsh and Ray Field still to resign their posts, it was suggested the embattled clerics had been in contact with the Holy See after initially offering to step down.

Vatican correspondent Andrea Tornelli of Milan’s Il Giornale, suggested the two men wrote to the Vatican distancing themselves from accusations.