The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Dr James Moriarty, has offered his resignation to the Pope.

The move was widely expected in the wake of the Murphy Report into the handling of clerical child abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

It follows the resignation last week of Limerick Bishop Donal Murray.

Dr James Moriarty indicated last Friday that he’d step down for the good of the Catholic Church.

But he stressed he had not been singled out by the Murphy Report into clerical abuse.

Gary Sullivan, editor of the Irish Catholic, says “He accepts the overall conclusions of the Murphy report that there was a failure to respond properly to criminal acts by those in charge”.

In a statement to be issued, Bishop Moriarty says that he accepts that from the time he became an Auxiliary Bishop he should have challenged the prevailing culture.

He adds that he hopes his resignation honours the truth that the survivors have so bravely uncovered and opens the way to a better future for all concerned.

One of the victims of clerical sex abuse, Andrew Madden has given a guarded welcome to the decision.

“Bishop Moriarty and Bishop Murray prior to him have resigned for the good of the church – and neither of them taking any responsibility for their actions” he said.

“How the fellow bishops and priests are ever to preach about taking responsibility for things ever again is hard to understand” he added.

His resignation has been offered to the Pope and he is expected to travel to Rome in the New Year.