San Antonio auxiliary bishop's resignation accepted by pope

Published: 2005-12-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan of San Antonio. The resignation of the 75-year-old bishop was announced in Washington Dec. 15 by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishops are required by canon law to turn in their resignation at age 75. Born in Rathmore in County Kildare, Ireland, Bishop Flanagan was ordained a priest of the San Antonio Archdiocese in Ireland's County Tipperary June 10, 1956. Until his retirement, he was one of 33 active U.S. bishops who were born abroad. The oldest of eight children, he has three brothers and three sisters still living in Ireland with their families. Another brother is deceased.

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