Pope OKs Early Resignation For California Bishop

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope has accepted the early resignation of a Los Angeles bishop and named another bishop to eventually take over in San Diego.

Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala, 60, resigned under the code of canon law that lets bishops step down earlier than the normal retirment age of 75 if they’re sick or for some other reason that makes them unfit for office.

The Vatican declined to provide details, saying the archdiocese would comment later Wednesday.

Also Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI named Monsignor Cirilio Flores to eventually take over the San Diego diocese when Bishop Robert Brom retires.

In 2007, Brom oversaw a $198.1 million settlement with 144 people who said they were sexually abused by priests, at the time the second-largest U.S. abuse settlement.