Cardinal Keith O'brien Reported to Vatican over Inappropriate Conduct Claims Dating Back 30 Years
Daily Record
THE leader of Scotland’s Catholics, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, has been reported to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate conduct. Three priests and a former priest are understood to have reported the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh to nuncio Antonio Mennini – the Vatican’s ambassador to Britain – complaining about incidents stretching back 30 years. A newspaper last night claimed the four are demanding O’Brien’s immediate resignation. Today it was reported that O'Brien had not attended Sunday Mass. O’Brien, 74, who is due to retire next month and denies all the claims, is Britain’s most senior Catholic. He has recently been an outspoken critic and hardline opponent of gay marriage. The Observer claimed that three priests and one former priest have complained about his conduct and demanded he step down. O’Brien, who has been archbishop since 1985, is due to take part in the election of the successor to Pope Benedict XVI when he stands down on Thursday. The four complainers are said to have sent statements to the Vatican ambassador’s office the week before the Pope’s shock resignation earlier this month. One of the men, it is understood, alleges that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him, and that he needed long-term counselling. The first allegation of inappropriate conduct against the cardinal is said to date back to 1980. The complainers claim O’Brien abused his position. One told The Observer: “You have to understand the relationship between a bishop and a priest. At your ordination, you take a vow to be obedient to him. “He’s more than your boss, more than the CEO of your company. He has immense power over you.” A spokesman for the Catholic church in Scotland last night said the cardinal denied the claims and was consulting lawyers.
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