Bishop resigns saying he brought "shame" on the diocese

A Catholic bishop has apologised to churchgoers after he resigned from his post, claiming to have brought "shame" on his diocese and the church. The Rt Rev Kieran Conry, who is Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, covering Surrey and Sussex, issued a statement which said he had "been unfaithful to his promises as a Catholic priest".

The statement, which was being read in all churches of the diocese this weekend, said: "I am sorry to confess that, going back some years, I have been unfaithful to my promises as a Catholic priest."