NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Brooklyn Diocese Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is resigning, the diocese’s newspaper said Wednesday, just weeks after a Vatican investigation cleared him of sexual abuse allegations.
Pope Francis accepted DiMarzio's resignation and named 59-year-old Bishop Robert Brennan, a Bronx native who is Bishop of Columbus, to be the eighth Bishop of Brooklyn, according to The Tablet.
DiMarzio, 77, has been Bishop of Brooklyn since 2003. All Bishops are required to submit their resignations at age 75, according to The Tablet.
“In the selection of Bishop Robert Brennan, the Holy Father has called upon a native New Yorker to return to lead the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens,” DiMarzio said in a statement. “On behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn, I welcome Bishop Brennan, whom I have known for many years, with confidence in his ability to lead our Catholic community and build upon the pastoral achievements we have made. It has truly been an honor to serve as Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn for 18 years.”
Earlier this month, the Vatican exonerated DiMarzio after two men accused him of sexually abusing them a half-century ago when he was a priest in New Jersey.
DiMarzio denied the accusations made by his accusers, both of whom have filed civil claims against him.
The accusers' lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, has said the two men would both press forward with the civil cases.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who as archbishop of New York is the responsible for both the Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses, welcomed Brennan back home.
“During my over 12 years as archbishop of New York, I have come to know him as a fine priest and bishop, a warm individual, and a good friend," Dolan said.
Dolan, who had appointed an outside firm to investigate DiMarzio, thanked the bishop for his “zeal and dedication" in leading the Brooklyn diocese for 18 years and said he would continue to be a source of wisdom for the New York church.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.