Scandal-scarred Archbishop Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington — facing calls for his resignation over his handling of clerical sexual abuse — says he will talk with Pope Francis about possibly stepping down, The Washington Post reported.
In a letter to priests, Wuerl did not say whether he will ask the Pope to accept his resignation, which he submitted three years ago at the customary retirement age of 75, the Post reported.
But he acknowledged Catholics' questions about their bishops' ability to lead them to healing amid a massive sex-abuse crisis and said he will discuss his resignation.
"At issue is how to begin effectively to bring a new level of healing to survivors who have personally suffered so much and to the faithful entrusted to our care who have also been wounded by the shame of these terrible actions and have questions about their bishop's ability to provide the necessary leadership," Wuerl wrote to the priests of the Archdiocese of Washington, the Post reported.
Wuerl visited the Vatican last month after the release of a bombshell grand jury report in Pennsylvania that revealed allegations of abuse by more than 300 priests across the state, which also questioned Wuerl's own conduct as a supervisor of priests when he was bishop of Pittsburgh.
The Pope told him to consult his priests about what he should do, the Post reported.
"It was clear that some decision, sooner rather than later, on my part is an essential aspect so that this archdiocesan Church we all love can move forward," Wuerl wrote, the Post reported.
"As fruit of our discernment I intend, in the very near future, to go to Rome to meet with our Holy Father about the resignation I presented nearly three years ago, Nov. 12, 2015."
The decision is up to the Pope, but Wuerl hinted it is likely his resignation will be accepted, closing his letter by anticipating "a new beginning" for the church.
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