U.S. Bishop’s Resignation Accepted
The Vatican on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Bishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle, whose liberal social views once prompted the Holy See to curb his powers.
A Vatican statement said that Pope John Paul II had accepted Hunthausen’s resignation for health reasons. The bishop, who turned 70 Wednesday, has had two heart attacks.
Hunthausen, bishop of Seattle for 16 years, announced his resignation in June. He will be replaced by Bishop Thomas Murphy.
Hunthausen was an outspoken critic of the U.S. arms buildup in the 1980s and held views on sexual and ethical matters that were at odds with the more conservative church teachings promulgated by the Pope.
Vatican displeasure was such that in 1986 the church department overseeing bishops shifted several of Hunthausen’s responsibilities to an auxiliary bishop, including the power to annul marriages and instruct priests.
He was restored to his full duties three years later.
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