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DUBLIN (Reuters) - An Irish bishop who served as a private secretary to three popes has quit his daily duties to deal with a sex-abuse inquiry in his diocese, the Roman Catholic Church said on Saturday.
John Magee, bishop of Cloyne in the south of Ireland since 1987, has been under fire for his handling of reports of sexual abuse in his diocese.
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The church has been faulted in large part for appearing to cover up the scandals, often by transferring priests to different parishes after complaints were made.
Magee had faced calls to resign since a commission set up by the church found last year his diocese had exposed children to risk by not responding appropriately to abuse allegations.
Magee will keep his title as bishop but Pope Benedict has appointed Archbishop Dermot Clifford as apostolic administrator to run the diocese, the church said.
"The decision of the Holy Father to grant that request is an indication of the importance which the Church gives to safeguarding children and caring for the needs of victims," Cardinal Sean Brady, archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland, said in a statement.
Magee, born in 1936 in Northern Ireland, welcomed Clifford's appointment.
"This appointment will enable Bishop Magee to devote the necessary time and energy to cooperating fully with the government Commission of Inquiry into child
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Magee served as private secretary to popes Paul VI, Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II and in 1982 he was appointed Master of Pontifical Ceremonies.
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