Archbishop of Santa Fe Michael Sheehan says he will resign later this year.
Sheehan told parishioners in a recorded message that the Roman Catholic Church requires him to submit a letter of resignation on his 75th birthday in July. He said it may take a while before Pope Francis appoints a successor but hoped it will be by 2015.
Sheehan, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary in the priesthood this summer, became Archbishop of Santa Fe in 1993 a few months after then-Archbishop Robert Sanchez resigned amid allegations of sexual relations with women.
He was thrust into leading abuse investigations, removing priests and overseeing the financial consequences of lawsuits.
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe includes more than 300,000 Catholics in Las Cruces, central, and northern New Mexico.
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