VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Monsignor Alphonsus Penney, archbishop of Newfoundland, the Vatican said Saturday. Penney, who asked to resign in July, took responsibility for a sex scandal involving priests and boys. Monsignor James MacDonald, currently assigned to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, takes Penney's place. Penney saw more than 20 of his priests, former priests and others charged with or convicted of sexually abusing boys over a 2 1/2-year period.