Pope Francis accepts the resignation of elected bishop of Duluth Michel Mulloy after being accused of abuse

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop-elect of Duluth, Minnesota, Michel J. Mulloy, after allegations of abusing a minor in the 80s surfaced in early August.

Mulloy, 66, was appointed to lead the diocese of Minnesota on June 19, and his consecration and installation as bishop was scheduled for October 1.

According to a statement by the diocese of Rapid City, of which Mulloy had been administrator since August 2019, the diocese on 7 August "received notification of an accusation against Father Mulloy of sexual abuse of a minor in the early 80s".

The diocese said it "has no other allegations of sexual abuse involving Father Mulloy".

Press releases from the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops did not indicate a reason for the resignation of the elected bishop.

The Rapid City diocese said it was "following the established procedure" and informed law enforcement about the accusation. Mulloy was also ordered to refrain from engaging in the ministry.

The diocese commissioned an independent investigation into the allegation, which a review committee later agreed deserved a full investigation under canon law. The diocese has informed the Holy See of the development.

Mulloy received a summary of the charges against him and subsequently filed his resignation as elected bishop of Duluth.

Mulloy had been vicar general and vicar for the clergy in the diocese of Rapid City since 2017.

His appointment as Bishop of Duluth nearly three months ago followed the unexpected death of Bishop Paul Sirba on December 1, 2019, at the age of 59.

With Mulloy's resignation as elected bishop, Msgr. James Bissonnette will continue to administer the diocese of Duluth until a new bishop is appointed.

Bissonnette said in a brief statement on September 7: “We are saddened with all those who have been sexually abused and with their loved ones. I ask you to pray for the person who has come forward with this accusation, for Father Mulloy, for the faithful of our diocese and for all concerned. We place our hope and trust in God's providence as we await, once again, the appointment of our next bishop ”.

At a televised press conference in Duluth following his appointment on June 19, a visibly emotional Mulloy said "this is truly incredible, thank God for this opportunity."

“I am humiliated. I am deeply grateful that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, thought that I could manage and seize this opportunity “.

Mulloy was born in Mobridge, South Dakota in 1954. He said his family moved a lot during his childhood. He also lost his mother at an early age; she died when he was 14.

He graduated from St. Mary University in Winona, Minnesota with a degree in art and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux Falls on June 8, 1979.

Mulloy was assigned to assist the Rapid City Diocese at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help shortly after his ordination.

In July 1981, he returned to the Diocese of Sioux Falls, where he served until July 1983 as parish vicar at Christ the King Parish in Sioux Falls.

Aside from that two-year period, Mulloy spent his entire priestly life in the diocese of Rapid City.

In a September 7 statement, the diocese of Sioux Falls said it "has no record of having received any complaints or allegations regarding the conduct of Father Mulloy during his assigned ministry" in the diocese.

After serving in several parishes in the diocese of Rapid City, including the missionary parishes of St. Anthony in Red Owl and Our Lady of Victory in Plainview, Mulloy was incardinated into the diocese on October 17, 1986.

He was then appointed parish priest of the church of San Giuseppe with a continued ministry in the two mission parishes.

The centenary parish of Our Lady of Victory in Plainview was closed by the diocese in 2018 due to a decline in the rural population in the area.

The priest was pastor in several other parishes in the diocese of Rapid City. He was also director of vocations from 1989 to 1992 and director of the office of worship in 1994.

Mulloy was also director of spiritual life and liturgy at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center in 2018.