Leading theologian calls for bishops to resign

A leading theologian is calling for all bishops named in the Murphy report to resign immediately.

The damning report found that hundreds of cases of abuse were covered up by the Archdiocese of Dublin and other church and state authorities.

Writing in today's Irish Times, the former professor of moral theology at St. Patrick's College in Maynooth says he found the response from bishops "mindboggling".

On calling for the resignation of the bishops, Dr Vincent Twomey said: "The longer they delay in doing so, the greater the damage they will do to all faithful Catholics."

In his letter, Dr Twomey says the bishops were "deemed guilty of putting the intestates of the institution above the safety and welfare of children".

Meanwhile, its also emerged that the office of the Minister for Children is preparing legislation to created a Criminal Assets Bureau type of agency to oversee information on child abuse.