Pope John Paul II has chosen a new bishop for the US diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts to replace Bishop Thomas Dupre, who resigned after two men accused him of raping them.
The pope named Dr Timothy McDonnell (66), former auxiliary bishop in New York, to replace Bishop Dupre, whose resignation in February marked the latest chapter in a widespread sexual-abuse scandal that erupted more than two years ago.
If indicted over the accusations, experts say 70-year-old Bishop Dupre would be the highest-ranking US church figure to face criminal charges in the scandal.
Lawyers said last week they had interviewed two men, both aged about 40, who say Dupre raped them around two decades ago.