German bishop Walter Mixa offers to resign

[Dale_M]

The bishop of Augsburg in southern Germany has offered to resign following accusations that he hit children, Church officials say.

Bishop Walter Mixa was reported to have told the Pope in a resignation letter that his diocese needed a “new start”.

The bishop at first denied hitting children before saying he may have slapped them, and apologising.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8636625.stm

The reporter is uncertain whether Pope Benedict will accept the resignation.

And from a different article…

Several people who lived at the orphanage as children have come forward with allegations that Mixa beat them with his fists, a stick and a carpet beater when they were reported for misbehavior.

Mixa is regarded as one of Germany’s most conservative bishops and fiercely supports parent child-rearing over sending them to kindergartens. Zollitsch, who heads the Conference of German Bishops, is seen as progressive by comparison, but the public parting of ways between two German bishops is unprecedented.

dw-world.de/dw/article/0,5491508,00.html

 

[OriginalJS]

Sounds like that corporal punishment the nuns and brothers used to dole out back in the day. Although, using a carpet beater seems a little out of line.