Walter Mixa

German bishop facing sex abuse claims says he was pressured into resignation by his peers. A former German bishop said Wednesday his peers in the Roman Catholic church pressured him into resigning over abuse allegations and that he is considering appealing his case to the Vatican court.

BERLIN (Reuters) - The growing scandal over sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests threatened Germany's top bishop who was charged on Wednesday with aiding and abetting a known abuser by allowing him to get a new job in a German parish.

Roman Catholics can send now text messages of support to Pope Benedict XVI, Italian public television said Saturday, as the Church faces an international paedophile scandal.

Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of a German bishop who admitted he beat children in a Catholic orphanage and also faces a paedophilia probe, the Vatican said.

Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of a German bishop who admitted he beat children in a Catholic orphanage and also faces a paedophilia probe, the Vatican said.

Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of a German bishop who admitted he beat children in a Catholic orphanage and also faces a paedophilia probe, the Vatican said.

Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of German bishop Walter Mixa over charges of beating children in a Catholic orphanage more than 20 years ago, the Vatican said.

Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of German bishop Walter Mixa over charges of beating children in a Catholic orphanage more than 20 years ago, the Vatican said.

The Roman Catholic Church, embroiled in scandal over waves of paedophile priest scandals, must show it has "nothing to hide," the Vatican spokesman said Saturday.

A Belgian Catholic bishop quit his post on Friday after admitting sexually abusing a child, the first such high-level resignation as more paedophilia revelations from the church come to light.

The bishop of the Flemish city of Bruges has resigned after admitting sexually abusing a young boy several years ago, the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium announced on Friday.

The abuse scandal that has swept through the Catholic Church in Europe cost the head of an Irish bishop Thursday as its leaders in England and Wales offered a full apology to victims.

One of Germany's most divisive bishops has offered to resign after admitting to hitting children, his diocese said Thursday, hoping the move would allow the embattled Church a "new start".

One of Germany's top bishops tendered his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday after admitting hitting children, saying he hoped his actions would allow a "new start" for the embattled Church.

One of Germany's top bishops tendered his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday after admitting hitting children, saying he hoped his actions would allow a "new start" for the embattled Church.