Bishop Robert Byrne has been reported to the police following an allegation of abuse made against him by a Catholic priest, the Catholic Herald can reveal.
The Oratorian stepped down as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in December - almost a decade before he was due to retire – saying that the demands of his office were “too great a burden”.
Last week, however, the Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops launched an investigation for “an in-depth report into the events leading up to Bishop Byrne's resignation” which will be overseen by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool.
