Australian Archbishop, Philip Wilson, the most senior Catholic official in the world to be convicted of concealing child sexual abuse, has resigned, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said in a statement on Monday.

 The 67-year-old Catholic cleric was convicted in May and later sentenced to 12 months in jail for failing to report to the Police, the sexual abuse of two altar boys, by a paedophile priest in the 1970s.

 According to the statement, Pope Francis accepted Wilson’s resignation.

 Wilson, the archbishop of Adelaide, has launched an appeal against his conviction, which is set to continue.

 Calls for his resignation came from all quarters, including Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who welcomed Wilson’s resignation.

 Turnbull said: “I welcome Philip Wilson’s resignation as Archbishop of Adelaide today, which belatedly recognises the many calls, including my own, for him to resign.

 “There is no more important responsibility for community and church leaders than the protection of children.’’ </s> MELBOURNE, Australia — An Australian archbishop was convicted on Tuesday of covering up a claim of sexual abuse dating back decades, and now faces a prison sentence of up to two years.

Philip Wilson, the archbishop of Adelaide, is the highest-ranking Catholic official in the world to be convicted of concealing such crimes.

The decision comes in the midst of a global reckoning for the Roman Catholic Church, as it grapples with a history of child sexual abuse and cover-ups. Cardinal George Pell, also an Australian and the Vatican’s de facto finance chief, was ordered last month to stand trial on charges of “historical sexual abuse.”

Archbishop Wilson, 67, was accused of covering up abuse by a priest, Jim Fletcher, in the state of New South Wales in the 1970s. </s> VATICAN CITY, July 30 (Reuters) - Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson, the most senior Catholic cleric in the world found guilty of concealing child sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, has resigned, the Vatican said on Monday.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had accepted the resignation.

Wilson, 67, of Adelaide, was convicted in May of failing to disclose to police abuse by another priest, James Fletcher, after being told about it in 1976 by two victims, one of them an altar boy who told him inside the confessional. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Kevin Liffey) </s> Image copyright Reuters Image caption Philip Wilson was found guilty of concealing child sexual abuse

Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson has resigned after being convicted of concealing child sex abuse.

In May, he was given a one-year sentence for failing to report allegations of abuse by a priest in the 1970s.

Wilson is the world's most senior Roman Catholic cleric to be convicted of the offence.

Earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on the Pope to sack him.

During his trial, Wilson denied any knowledge of abuse committed by priest James Fletcher during his time as an assistant priest in Maitland, 130km (80 miles) north of Sydney.

Fletcher was convicted of nine child sexual abuse charges in 2004, and died in jail in 2006.

However, the magistrate found that Wilson had been told about the abuse by the young victims and that he had failed to report the crimes because he wanted to protect the Church's reputation.

Wilson has said he will appeal against his conviction. He could avoid jail after the court ordered he be assessed for "home detention". </s> Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson will appeal his conviction for concealing child sex crimes after refusing to resign and despite calls for his resignation from Malcolm Turnbull, Bill Shorten and senior Catholic priest Frank Brennan.

Wilson announced his intention to appeal to the District Court in a statement a day after he was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, and after senior Australian politicians voiced their concern at the lack of a public response from the Catholic Church.

“Resigning immediately is the very least he can do in this circumstance,” said Opposition Leader Bill Shorten several hours after the Prime Minister said he was surprised that Wilson, 67, hadn’t already resigned after he was convicted on May 22.

In a statement on Wednesday Wilson said he was “conscious of calls for me to resign” and he had “taken them very seriously”.

“However, at this time, I am entitled to exercise my legal rights and to follow the due process of law,” he said. </s> The Pope has accepted the resignation of an Australian archbishop convicted of covering up the sexual abuse of children by a priest.

The Pope has accepted the resignation of an Australian archbishop convicted of covering up the sexual abuse of children by a priest.

Francis’ move followed mounting pressure from Australian priests and even the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson was convicted in May of failing to report to police the repeated abuse of two altar boys by a paedophile priest in the Hunter Valley region north of Sydney during the 1970s.

He became the highest-ranking Catholic cleric ever convicted in a criminal court of covering up abuse.

Wilson had declined to resign pending an appeal of his case.

Mr Turnbull added his voice to those calling for his sacking in an appeal to Francis on July 19.

The Vatican said that Francis has accepted Wilson’s resignation. </s> The most senior figure in the Catholic church so far to be found guilty of covering up for crimes of child sexual abuse has been found guilty by an Australian court.

The Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson could face two years in jail when sentenced in June. </s> Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson — the most senior Catholic in the world to be convicted of concealing child sex abuse.

There had been intense pressure on Philip Wilson to officially step down from the role, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other political leaders among those calling for his resignation.

In May, Wilson was found guilty of covering up the abuse of children between 2004 and 2006 at the hands of paedophile priest Jim Fletcher in the 1970s.

In a statement, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said Wilson had "decided that his conviction means he can no longer continue as Archbishop because to do so would continue to cause pain and distress to many, especially to survivors and also in the Archdiocese of Adelaide".

"While the judicial process will continue, Archbishop Wilson's resignation is the next chapter in a heartbreaking story of people who were sexually abused at the hands of Jim Fletcher and whose lives were forever changed," the statement read.

"This decision may bring some comfort to them despite the ongoing pain they bear."

The Prime Minister said the resignation was overdue.

"I welcome Philip Wilson's resignation as Archbishop of Adelaide today which belatedly recognises the many calls, including my own, for him to resign," Mr Turnbull said on Monday night.

"There is no more important responsibility for community and church leaders than the protection of children."

It is understood Mr Turnbull was advised on the weekend that the Archbishop would be resigning.

Wilson was sentenced to 12 months' detention earlier this month and has said he intends to lodge an appeal.

Port Pirie Bishop Greg O'Kelly has been filling in as apostolic administrator of the Adelaide Archdiocese, taking over Philip Wilson's responsibilities.

'Too much pain in my maintaining office': Wilson

In a media release from the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, Wilson said he hoped and prayed that his decision would be a "catalyst to heal pain and distress".

"On July 20 I submitted to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, my resignation from the position of Archbishop of Adelaide," he said.

"Though my resignation was not requested, I made this decision because I have become increasingly worried at the growing level of hurt that my recent conviction has caused within the community.

"I had hoped to defer this decision until after the appeal process had been completed.

"However, there is just too much pain and distress being caused by my maintaining the office of Archbishop of Adelaide, especially to the victims of Fr Fletcher. </s> The Pope has accepted the resignation of Adelaide Catholic archbishop Philip Wilson after he was convicted of concealing child abuse in May.

Wilson became the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of not disclosing to police abuse by another priest.

He immediately launched an appeal against his conviction after he was handed 12 months’ detention earlier this month.

Calls for his resignation came thick and fast but Wilson insisted he would not step aside until his legal options were exhausted.

Pope Francis accepted Wilson’s resignation on Monday night, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said in a statement.

“I welcome Philip Wilson’s resignation as Archbishop of Adelaide today which belatedly recognises the many calls, including my own, for him to resign,” he said in a statement.

“There is no more important responsibility for community and church leaders than the protection of children.”

Wilson’s appeal is set to continue, the ACBC said, but his resignation may bring comfort to the victims of priest James Fletcher – whose abuse the former archbishop allegedly concealed.

“This decision may bring some comfort to them, despite the ongoing pain they bear,” the ACBC said.
Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson announces his resignation after being convicted for his role in covering up sexual abuse. He is the most senior Roman Catholic official convicted to date.