Official: Peru bishop removed amid abuse charges

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pope Francis has removed a Roman Catholic bishop in Peru who the country's retired former prelate says is suspected of sexually abusing minors.

Gabino Miranda, 53, was removed as part of the new pope's "zero-tolerance" policy against abuse, the Rev. Luis Bambaren, the retired prelate and a Jesuit, told reporters on Friday.

Miranda is only the second bishop known to have been removed in recent times by the Vatican over sex-abuse allegations.

The Rev. Percy Quispe, spokesman for the archdiocese of Ayacucho, confirmed Miranda's removal to The Associated Press today. He said Miranda departed in July but did not specify the reason.

Miranda had led the Peruvian church's youth commission and was a close associate of the country's prelate, Archbishop Juan Cipriani. Both men had been members of the conservative Opus Dei organization.