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They’re not being allowed to resign because that lets them off the hook. They are being kept there to be available for legal actions and make them accept their responsibilities and fight on their own behalf, if they’re in the right. Bishops have too often been able to resign and walk away from their messes. However, you will note that they are not in charge of dioceses, but are simply being kept “on tap,” so to speak, in administrative positions.

There may be a little more to it than that - maybe some payback is involved.

"A damaging rift appeared in Ireland’s Catholic hierarchy as Archbishop Martin – who had opened secret church files to investigators – publicly called on clergy implicated in the state inquiry to step down."
(Irish Echo)

"Multiple speculations on the significance of the rejections have circulated in the news, with one Irish editor commenting that the Vatican was not pleased with Archbishop Martin's public clash with predecessors and other Church authorities. The archbishop, who was appointed in 2004 amid Ireland's child abuse scandals, has been outspoken against implicated Church officials who suppressed reports of abuse and transferred abusive priests to other parishes in the U.K. and the U.S.

Gary O'Sullivan, editor of the weekly Irish Catholic newspaper in Dublin told the AP that the “Vatican were not impressed with the way Diarmuid Martin went on PrimeTime (an Irish television news program) and called on other bishops to be accountable.”

"It's not the way business is done in Rome.”
(CNA)

It seems that the Vatican is not pleased with Archbishop Martin and this is a way of showing its displeasure.

They’re not being allowed to resign because that lets them off the hook. They are being kept there to be available for legal actions and make them accept their responsibilities and fight on their own behalf, if they’re in the right. Bishops have too often been able to resign and walk away from their messes. However, you will note that they are not in charge of dioceses, but are simply being kept “on tap,” so to speak, in administrative positions.

Now that's a new spin I've never heard! Care to explain what the deal is with Law and Mahony?

Will the Vatican create a new office just for bishops who protected child rapists?