THE Catholic bishop who has been missing for a week resigned during an hour long meeting with leaders of the church hierarchy in Scotland, it emerged last night. His resignation took place at an "emotional" meeting at the Glasgow residence of Cardinal Thomas Winning on Sunday night.
The meeting was arranged after the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Dr Roderick Wright (55), who vanished last week about the same time as Ms Kathleen Macphee, a divorced mother of three in her early 40s, contacted church leaders on Saturday, Cardinal Winning told a news conference in Glasgow last night.
But Cardinal Winning - who said Mrs Macphee was not present at the Sunday night meeting - stressed the bishop had no intention of "giving up the church". He said: "I would still hope he would continue some time, somewhere, his ministry as a priest. We both felt that in his heart of hearts, that's what he would probably want to do."
The cardinal said: "It was a very emotional meeting because he was very upset and I didn't think he realised the kind of trauma he put every one else in."
The cardinal did not say and thing about the current state of the apparent relationship between the bishop and Mrs Macphee.
He said: "I had the distinct impression he was leaving because he had damaged the church so much that he could not go back to being the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.
"It did not come across that he was leaving to live with this lady for the rest of his life, I did not get that impression.
"We have offered them both facilities for counselling because I think they are going to need it very much, and the bishop's future is not at all clear in his own mind."
In a statement released yesterday the bishop asked for "your forgiveness and your prayers".
He is believed to be in hiding with Ms Macphee.
In his resignation statement to the Pope, the bishop said: "I am physically and spiritually unable to sustain the responsibilities of a diocesan bishop and asked to be released of my office as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles. I ask your forgiveness and your players.
Dr Wright - known as "Starsky" because of his likeness to the American TV star Paul Michael Glaser - is a popular and respected figure in the diocese.
Ms Macphee, the woman linked with the missing bishop, lives in Inverlochy, near Fort William. The bishop was once her priest in the parish of Corpach.
According to news reports, he conducted the funeral of Ms Macphee's stillborn child. Later, the bishop helped her cope with the breakup of her marriage.
According to some reports, Ms Macphee left her home two weeks ago, leaving her 15 year old daughter with relatives. Her two sons, aged 24 and 15, have their own homes.