AUGSBURG, Germany (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of the Augsburg Bishop Walter Mixa, who has admitted hitting children but has denied sexually abusing them.

In addition, Bishop Mixa will no longer be responsible for German military personnel, the Vatican announced May 8.

Just before the Vatican’s announcement, the Augsburg Diocese confirmed media reports that it had informed the state prosecutor about accusations relating to sexual abuse by Bishop Mixa during his time as bishop of Eichstatt, 1996-2005. According to those reports, the incidents involved a boy. Bishop Mixa’s lawyer denied the accusations and said that the bishop was cooperating with the prosecutor.

On April 21, Bishop Mixa submitted his resignation following accusations that he had hit children during his time as priest in charge of a children’s home near Augsburg. He originally denied the charges, then admitted that he may have “boxed the ears” of children. A special investigator has been appointed by the children’s home to look into the accusations, as well as into evidence that then-Father Mixa had used money from the children’s home for private purposes.