Romania: bishop involved in "sex tape" scandal resigns
Media waits outside the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. The Holy Synod of Romania's Orthodox Church is meeting behind closed doors to discuss what action to take against the Bishop of Husi, Corneliu Barladeanu, who was seen on video engaging in sexual acts with a male student, the first time in its 92-year history that the synod gathered to decide on action to take in a sex scandal. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
BUCHAREST — Romania's Orthodox Church says a bishop who was seen on video engaging in sexual acts with a male student has resigned from his position.
The patriarchy said in a statement yesterday that the Bishop of Husi, Corneliu Barladeanu, 51, had decided to step down "for the peace and good of the church." He maintains his innocence.
The statement was issued at the end of a two-day Holy Synod where a sex scandal was discussed for the first time in its 92-year history.
Although Barladeanu will no longer hold an official position, he will remain a monk. Orthodox bishops are monks.
The statement said the resignation was the best outcome, because an investigation would last months and would "prolong the situation of uncertainty of the bishopry of Husi," in northeast Romania.
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