Pope accepts bishop's resignation

VIENNA, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of an Austrian bishop whose seminary was in the midst of a child pornography scandal.

Bishop Kurt Krenn, 68, was in overall charge of the seminary near the Austrian capital of Vienna, where investigators found thousands of lewd images, including child pornography, the BBC reported Thursday.

The bishop has said he stepped down voluntarily and not under pressure from the Vatican. His seminary has been closed.

The pope has appointed another Austrian bishop to take his place.