Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean Brady, who since 1996 served as the Primate of All Ireland. In light of his 75th birthday, the Cardinal submitted his resignation, as required by Canon Law and the age limits it sets. ;
However, his resignation is surrounded by years of controversy. He was sharply criticized for his involvement in the canonical investigation of ;pedophile priest, Brendan Smyth. ;
The proceeding took place in 1975 but in the following decades, Smyth went on to abuse even more children in Belfast, Dublin and the U.S before his arrest in 1994. He died in prison a few years later in 1997. ;
In the past Cardinal Brady had argued that even though he was involved in the investigation, he didn't have the final say. ;
According to published reports, a sex abuse survivor from Ireland, personally asked Pope Francis to remove Cardinal Brady as the archbishop and Primate of All-Ireland. ;
Cardinal Brady will be succeeded by Archbishop Eamon Martin, who serves as the director of the Church's National Board for Safeguarding Children. ;
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