Senior Vatican priest resigns over advances to nun

A senior Vatican priest accused of making advances towards a nun during confession has resigned, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Austrian Father Hermann Geissler resigned as one of three top officials at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which ensures Roman Catholic moral doctrine.

"Geissler decided to take this step to limit the damage already done to the congregation and to his community," a Vatican statement said, adding that he "reserves the right for possible civil legal action."