LOS ANGELES, June 15 (UPI) -- Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating will resign as head of the Roman Catholic Church's U.S. sexual abuse oversight panel, the L.A. Times reported Sunday.
Keating incurred the wrath of Catholic leaders last week when he compared some Catholic bishops to "La Cosa Nostra," the Times said.
The comments were denounced as "off the wall" by Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and a majority of members on the panel privately called on Keating to quit.
Keating's spokesman, Dan Mahoney, said a formal announcement will be made before the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops semiannual meeting in St. Louis this week.
Keating was appointed to the panel one year ago and Mahoney said Keating's resignation was planned before the controversy erupted.
Mahoney defended remarks.
"He uses strong language to make a point. He tells the truth, and apparently some people don't want to hear the truth," Mahoney said.
