Bishop Moriarty resignation 'likely to be accepted soon'

The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Jim Moriarty has told mass-goers that his resignation is likely to be accepted by the Vatican after Easter.

It is the first mention of a resignation since Irish bishops met Pope Benedict last week to discuss the Murphy Report into clerical child sex abuse.

In an online statement, Bishop Jim Moriarty said he told the Pope that he offered to step down because of the need to transcend the culture of clerical cover-up.