Pope Francis has removed Bishop Martin Holley, the bishop of Memphis Tennessee. Bishop Holley was removed because of his management of the diocese during the clergy sex abuse scandal. Archbishop Louis Kurz of Louisville Tennessee will run the diocese until a replacement is found for bishop Holley.
From CNN:
Pope Francis has removed Bishop Martin Holley of Memphis, Tennessee, the Vatican announced on Wednesday. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville will run the diocese in Holley’s absence, the Vatican said.
A Vatican spokesman said that Holley was not removed because of the church’s ongoing clergy sex abuse scandal “It’s about management of the diocese,” said Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, “not abuse-related.”
In a statement, the Diocese of Memphis said Holley’s removal follows an “apostolic visitation” – churchspeak for a Vatican-led investigation – in June 2018. The diocese also said there had been “several efforts to restore peace and serenity,” which apparently failed.
The Vatican investigation centered on Holley’s reassignment of a large number of priests to new parishes and his hiring of a Canadian priest to a prominent post, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The priest later resigned from the post.
In a statement, Kurtz said: “I am eager to work with the priests, curia, and faithful of the Diocese of Memphis to promote stability, peace, and healing until Pope Francis appoints a new bishop.”
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