Pope fires Slovak bishop in rare show of authority
Pope Benedict XVI fired a 52-year-old Slovak bishop for apparently mismanaging his diocese in a rare show of papal power over bishops that could have implications for US sex abuse cases.
Usually when bishops run into trouble, either for alleged moral lapses or management problems, they are persuaded by the Vatican to resign. But Benedict has become increasingly willing to forcibly remove bishops who refuse to step down, sacking three others in the past year alone. (AP)
