English Bishop Steps Down Before Installation

Monsignor Philip Moger, 69, has stepped down from his September appointment as Bishop of Plymouth, England (February 24). Two month after the appointment, he announced in November that his installation as bishop would not take place as planned. He cited "concerns of a personal nature" as the reason.

Today, Monsignor Moger repeated that "concerns of a personal nature had been raised" against him: "All things considered, I have come to the decision to present to the Holy Father a request to step down from my appointment as Bishop of the Diocese of Plymouth. The Holy Father has accepted my request," he wrote.

For the immediate future, he will take enter a period of prayer and personal reflection.

Prior to his appointment as diocesan Bishop, Monsignor Moger was Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark.

There are no publicly known accusation of misconduct against Bishop Moger.

English journalist Damian Thompson added on X.com that Bishop Moger is "a good and decent man", "But we can’t judge because of the same secrecy that surrounded the cancelled appointment of Canon Christopher Whitehead to the same diocese just last year."

In February 2024, Canon Christopher Whitehead was due to be installed as Bishop of this diocese, but this too did not take place. In this case it was because of a 'canonical process'. However, after a preliminary investigation, the diocese concluded that no canonical process was necessary. Canon Whitehead returned to his former parish in Bath.

The Diocese of Plymouth has been vacant since June 2022, when Bishop Mark O'Toole was appointed Archbishop of Cardiff.

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