FRESNO, Calif. — The pope has officially excused Craig Harrison from his duties as a Catholic priest.

This comes from an internal memo from Bishop Joseph Brennan to the Catholic Diocese of Fresno saying that the move comes after a request from Harrison earlier this year.

Pope Francis granted that request in March, and the Diocese was notified last month.

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Harrison remains in an ongoing legal battle with the Diocese of Fresno after he claims he was defamed on a public radio show.

That defamation suit came after several allegations of sexual abuse directed at Harrison.