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Subscribe to RSSThe leader of the Scottish Catholic Church, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, has resigned amid allegations of inappropriate behavior, involving four priests in the 1980s. The Cardinal used his resignation to apologize to those he'd offended. ITV's Lewis Vaughan Jones report.
LONDON — Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric has resigned amid allegations of inappropriate behavior made by priests.
The Vatican said Monday that Pope Benedict XVI had formally accepted the resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien, archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. The Observer newspaper reported Sunday that the Vatican had been notified of allegations of inappropriate behavior stretching back 30 years.
Three priests in Scotland, as well as a former priest, have lodged complaints to the Vatican's ambassador to Britain and demanded O'Brien's immediate resignation, according to the newspaper.
The 74-year-old cardinal has contested the claims and said he is taking legal advice.
O’Brien had been prepared to resign, citing his age as the cause. He turns 75 on March 17, and the Vatican said the pope had in November accepted a resignation letter under the condition of “nunc pro tunc,” meaning “now for later.”
The Vatican said Monday, however, that the pontiff had now accepted the resignation “definitively.”
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images, file
The Vatican confirmed Monday that it had accepted the resignation of Cardinal Keith O'Brien, 74.
It means O'Brien will not take part in the conclave to elect the pope's successor - a process that could begin earlier than March 15 after the rules governing the process were changed in a move announced Monday.
O’Brien said in a statement that it was the pope himself who had decided his resignation would take effect immediately.
“Approaching the age of 75 and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation … some months ago,” he said. “The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today.”
O'Brien would have been Britain's only elector in the papal conclave that will gather to decide on a successor to Benedict XVI.
"I will not join them for this conclave in person," O'Brien said. "I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me -- but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor."
A hint of O’Brien’s accelerated resignation was found Sunday in Edinburgh, when the cardinal did not appear as scheduled to lead a Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Instead, Bishop Stephen Robson made a statement on O’Brien’s behalf.
“A number of allegations of inappropriate behavior have been made against the cardinal,” the statement said. “The cardinal has sought legal advice, and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time. There will be further statements in due course.”
Robson is an auxiliary prelate in the Edinburgh diocese.
O'Brien's statement went on to say: "I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest. Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologize to all whom I have offended."
Controversy
O’Brien had gained a reputation as a hard-line conservative and opponent of gay rights.
In 2009, O’Brien urged the Scottish National Party to abandon plans to give gay couples the same foster-parenting rights as straight ones, calling the idea “misguided” and saying that gays were known for unstable relationships.
Scandals are still on the minds of Catholics as Benedict's time as pope grows short. NBC's Ann Thompson reports.
Last year, he wrote an editorial in the Daily Telegraph in which he urged people to stand up against a proposal to allow gay marriage, which he said was “madness.” He referred then to same-sex marriage as a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right.”
O’Brien’s stance and other comments led the gay rights group Stonewall UK last year to nominate him for its “Bigot of the Year” award.
“Ten-thousand people overwhelmingly, decisively voted that he should be given that award,” said Colin MacFarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland. “We don’t call people a bigot because they disagree with us. We reserve that for people who use the kind of language the cardinal has used. He has gone out of his way. It has not been fair discourse. His language has been cruel, hurtful and pernicious.”
The group's response to news of O'Brien's resignation was unsurprising.
“We trust there will now be a full investigation into the serious allegations made against Cardinal O’Brien,” MacFarlane said. “We hope his successor will show a little more Christian charity towards openly gay people than the cardinal did himself.”
Two weeks ago, the pope’s brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, said scandals had troubled Benedict XVI and may have contributed to his decision to retire.
He specifically mentioned that Benedict had been bothered by the "Vatileaks" scandal in which a butler leaked secret documents, as well as the "the relationship to the Pius Brotherhood."
That organization, formally known as the Society of St. Pius X, fell into a harsh public spotlight in December when its leader, Bishop Bernard Fellay, said Jews were "the enemies of the church." His comment drew criticism from all corners of the church and from the public in general.
Georg Ratzinger said he thought his brother had handled those problems well but that they had taken their toll.
Related:
LA's Cardinal Mahony says he is a 'scapegoat'
Inside the Vatican: The $8 billion global institution where nuns answer the phones
Vatican history of 'cover-ups and disarray' will challenge new pope
This story was originally published on Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:55 AM EST
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Just like the Pope, he's stepping down to spend more time with the kids. Guess the Vatican should have allowed priests to get married all these years.
Seems as if people would step up to the plate and stop TRUSTING SO MANY OTHER people to take care of their kids and other business. I always made a point of "showing up" unannounced on occassion when my kids were in the care of others. Babysitters, daycare, schools, whatever. Just my own little effort to keep people "honest."
I do not condone any of this garbage as far as pedophiles - WHICH IS NOT WHAT THIS ARTICLE WAS ABOUT!!! Whatever else anyone does in their private lives is THEIR business - NOT MINE!!!
The problem I have with the Catholics is their sense of superiority in these high profile cases and the out and out hypocrisy - "Practice what I preach. Don't worry about what my personal actions are." To be fair, that's why I personally choose not to belong to ANY church - they're almost ALL hypoctites.
The Catholic church, a secret organized ring of sexual deviates and child rapists. Why does this world wide ring of sex freaks get no attention from law enforcement ?
if anyone is going to step down it should be Cardinal Mahoney from Los Angeles, Ca. I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, but left the church long ago. I joined the religion of treat others as you wish to be treated and take of the world given to us.
a true murderer is one who tries convicts and sentences someone in the court of opinion, instead of the court of LAW.
Umm, that's not an accurate definition of a murderer. Really, go look it up.
umm i was speaking metaphorically not literally
Whatever Cardinal Obrien's inappropriate behavior that warrants litigation is reserved until de facto evidence is presented to the court. His spiritual ruling however on gay rights is in effect in perfect alignment with Church teachings throughout the centuries, as revealed through the ministry of Jesus Christ, his apostles, prophets, and saints. Contemporary focus globally on immediate sexual gratification versus obedience to the Holy Word of God in no manner spiritually validates a group of people who historically fail to demonstrate moral, ethical, parental, and otherwise responsibility: they reject God's commandment for martimony as a holy sacrament. In biblical times prior to Christ they would be stoned to death, if caught. Jesus instituted the sacrament of repentance (forgiveness), for all sinners, including sodomy, adultery, fornication, same sex sexuality, etc., he did not however institute a libertine sexual philosophy that disegards the Holy Word of the Almighty Father. He stated to the sinners, "go and sin no more," as those who remained with him did. There is no man made law that may abrogate that revelation, no power, no money, no social status, no evil, only the mouth of Satan would attempt such a sacrilege. Pray peace to yur soul!
Whatever Cardinal Obrien's inappropriate behavior that warrants litigation is reserved until de facto evidence is presented to the court. His spiritual ruling however on gay rights is in effect in perfect alignment with Church teachings throughout the centuries, as revealed through the ministry of Jesus Christ, his apostles, prophets, and saints. Contemporary focus globally on immediate sexual gratification versus obedience to the Holy Word of God in no manner spiritually validates a group of people who historically fail to demonstrate moral, ethical, parental, and otherwise responsibility: they reject God's commandment for martimony as a holy sacrament. In biblical times prior to Christ they would be stoned to death, if caught. Jesus instituted the sacrament of repentance (forgiveness), for all sinners, including sodomy, adultery, fornication, same sex sexuality, etc., he did not however institute a libertine sexual philosophy that disegards the Holy Word of the Almighty Father. He stated to the sinners, "go and sin no more," as those who remained with him did. There is no man made law that may abrogate that revelation, no power, no money, no social status, no evil, only the mouth of Satan would attempt such a sacrilege. Pray peace to "your" soul!
Let's review every mention Jesus made about homosexuality.............
NONE, ZERO,ZIP, NADA.................
It's worse than that William. If it's true, what the Church teaches, that Jesus never married, there can be only one explanation: He must have been openly gay.
In that time, at that place marriage was a merger of titles &/or properties. The only possible way a Jew could have avoided marriage was by openly announcing his homosexuality.
The life expectancy was about 30 years. If you weren't married by 15, there was no chance of seeing your grandchildren.
Rick Santorum, a job just opened up!!
Catholic church members will not acknowledge real sexual predators in the church hierarchy. They just pretend it doesn't exist. They also pretend that they walk in the company of and talk to an invisible god with no real evidence that one really exists. They just believe it because their church hierachy tells them to. Now I know why they're called the flock. Dumb as sheep.
Is anyone surprised that the self-hatred the Catholic church teaches to gays will eventually warp their personalities in very destructive ways, as it clearly did with O'Brien?
While the sexual harassment of subordinates is a common problem in many organizations, the real problem here is the harm a closeted self-hating gay man has done to the civil rights of gays throughout the UK.
So, the catholic church is now 100% supporters of gay people and gay marriage? No matter what they do? Will gayness(and gay support) become a necessary factor in whether people go to heaven or hell? Has sodomy been redefined? And it is OK now?(even prefered?) Gay people will be a factor in who gets to be approved by the catholic church? Will it be a factor in who gets to be the next Pope? Will St Peters ceiling be repainted with a gay scene??
Is there a statue of a standing Peter?
Yes, J.A. -- Gay is A-OK!
You would hope there is someone within the college of cardinals who could be a pope with integrity, and who will start to take immediate decisive actions to stop these sex crimes against innocent children.
Yet with that in mind, since all of these cardinals were promoted by popes we have our doubts, in fact some should be fired, including Mahony and O'Brien.
So we hope that outside law enforcement will get more involved and investigate these crimes against humanity.
Until high ranking church officials spend some time behind bars, nothing will change within this archaic secretive institution. As long as they can still get away with it, they have no reason to stop.
Children are safest when child predators and those who enable and conceal their crimes are held responsible.
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511. snapjudy@gmail.com,
"SNAP (The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)
The O'Brien case is about the sexual harassment of adult subordinates, not the rape of children.
I heard that the touching of little boys was just part of a youth program called scared straight. It was designed to run alongside the pray the gay away program. (sarcasm button now off)
I will always be a spiritual person but will never lay claim to any organised religion. True spirituality is an individual path between a single person and their creator. Mankind is fallible, god is not, so why would anyone put their fate and faith in the hands of their fellow sinner? For true enlightenment stop following your fellow sinners and take the time to get to know YOUR creator and this beautiful world that was created for the benefit of all creations NOT JUST MANKIND. This world of perfect balance was created with all in mind, not just a chosen few. I believe all things were created for greater understanding and growth, when we close our eyes due to beliefs we tend to gain neither which i believe to be one of the greatest of sins. Indifference dose not create an imbalance but instead indifference is what keeps all in balance.
Feel free to criticize and or critique, but please due so with an open mind.
These problems exist in all churches. I hate to see the Catholic Church ridiculed so much more than others. And no, I'm not Catholic. I am so turned off by religion thanks to the far right Republican nuts.
Blame it on Luther. Religions by definition must have a moral code. When the Church openly ignored, abused, & violated its own code, the result was inevitable.
If these people are so corrupt how do we know his man's accusers aren't bearing false witness. Just saying. Be ready for defection and false accusations when this thing gets going. It will be near impossible to tell who's lying and who isn't.
Isn't that true of any sexual harassment case? But since four different people have accused O'Brien and he's since resigned, it's likely he did do it.
It could involve an animal, such as sheep, goats, cows, chickens .......... chickens?
let the poor guy retire in peace
i wish he wouldent go but that's what happens when you can't agree. what other recourse does a man of his stature character and principals have?
Why do you wish he remain in his elevated position within the church? He abused his power and authority, he lied, he sexually harassed his employees, and his actions were in direct opposition to much of what he preaches and teaches. This creep should have been fired long before he resigned. Where were his character and principals when decided to do all those things?
we still dont know what he did
Why do people still go to this place? If the Catholic Church was a store or restaurant, it would be out of business. Is there a BBB for religion?
"Holy Father?" There is only one Holy Father, that is God the Father Himself. That's why people get confused.. Who gave them the right to call themselves the Holy Father, they are servants of God, supposedly. They are to be called priests, clergy man, ministers.
we are all called to be holy and perfect as our father in heaven is perfect. not made up comes from Jesus himself
When terms like "reprobate," "pedophile," "misanthrope," "turd" and "pervert" appear in the job description, you can't rationally expect too much.
ever heard of virtus training? it teaches adults and kids how to spot and protect kids from pedophiles. the rcc is the only organization requiring this of all adults who come in contact with kids in an effort to protect them.
All different religions are enemies of the Catholic Church not just the Jews, because each religion has beliefs which are against the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Why is it that the media is always looking to accuse someone of anti-semitism. I mean lets be real if a rabbi said Catholics are the enemies of Judaism then no one would care. The other bishops in the church should praise Bishop Fellay, not put him down.
RUN, Forest, RUN!!!!! Hopefully, more will follow!!!
The Holy Church of Rome has a 1500 year history of crimes and abuse against humanity. They burned more people at the stake than they care to remember. Remember the start of the Crusades? And what about the made up office of Pope! Just where did that come from? Talk about a cult religion, they worship idols (look at all the statues in a Roman Catholic church), they pray first to a mortal woman, then made up saints (where did the idea of saints come from) and last but not least, the Papacy and all his minions cover up centuries of homosexual abuse on young men and the rape of who knows how many nuns.
Just a Crime! Man glad man can make it on his own!
They should lock him in a room with this kid:
Stand fast my Son, gay’s shall not inherit the earth, or should they be
with child to raise in there house of sin .. God , knows your work, and will
remember the one’s that try to tear down your shop..