invited a Newsday reporter and photographer to tour the apartment.. They reported that the residence included a large suite with a new fireplace with an oak mantel, a temperature-controlled wine storage cabinet, and a marble bathroom. Meeting with clergy In October 2003, 52 priests requested a meeting with Murphy after sending a letter that spoke of anger and dissatisfaction within the diocese and "a certain lack of confidence in your pastoral leadership." Issues raised included Murphy's management style, the cost of his new living quarters, the sexual abuse scandal in Boston and his ban against Long Island Voice of the Faithful. Catholic school closings On December 5, 2011, Murphy announced the closing of six Catholic elementary schools on Long Island: St. John Baptist de La Salle Regional School in Farmingdale St. Catherine of Sienna School in Franklin Square St. Ignatius Loyola School in Hicksville Sacred Heart School in North Merrick Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Lindenhurst Prince of Peace Regional School in Sayville Resignation On reaching age 75, the mandatory retirement age for bishops, Murphy sent a letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese Rockville Centre to the pope. On December 9, 2016, Pope Francis accepted his resignation. Honors and awards Honorary Doctor of Theology degree from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1999 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Salem State College, in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1999. Rabin Peacemaker Award from Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts in 2002 Doctor of Laws degree from St. John’s University in New York City in 2002. Murphy served as a trustee of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He is a knight commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, ecclesiastical commander of grace in the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, and assistant chaplain of the American Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta in 2002. See also Catholic Church hierarchy Catholic Church in the United States Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States List of Catholic bishops of the United States Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops References External links The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre Official Site Biography of Bishop Murphy (Official Diocesan Homepage) Episcopal succession 1940 births Living people 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Catholic University of America trustees Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Boston Latin School alumni Saint John's