N.Y. bishop: 'My behavior was wrong'

McCarthy resigned Tuesday.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A suburban New York bishop who resigned Tuesday after admitting he had affairs with women apologized to his parishioners Thursday.

In a letter posted on the church's Web site, Auxiliary Bishop James F. McCarthy told the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak, New York, that he had "betrayed the trust the church placed in me."

Cardinal Edward Egan accepted the resignation Tuesday after McCarthy, 59, admitted to "a number of affairs with women over several years," the archdiocese of New York said.

One relationship began when the woman involved was 21 years old, McCarthy said in a separate statement released Tuesday.

The resignation came after a letter of accusation was sent to the diocese, archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said. He said the archdiocese is investigating the matter and McCarthy "will not function as a priest" in the meantime.

In addition to being pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in northern Westchester County, just north of New York City, McCarthy also served as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of New York, assisting Egan with some of his duties, a parish spokeswoman said. He did not head a diocese.

"Please hold me in your prayers. Please love the church, with all its strengths and weaknesses," McCarthy beseeched his parishioners. "And please know how deeply I love you."

McCarthy was ordained in June 1968 and had served in three New York-area parishes. He also was Cardinal John O'Connor's secretary for 12 years.

His apology came on the same day that Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, meeting in Texas, offered an apology to all Catholics for the ongoing priestly child sexual abuse scandal.