British Cardinal Apologizes over Sexual Conduct

By Estelle Shirbon
Portage Daily Graphic
March 3, 2013

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2013/03/03/british-cardinal-apologizes-over-sexual-conduct

LONDON - A Roman Catholic cardinal who resigned as head of the church in Scotland apologised on Sunday for sexual conduct which he said had “fallen below the standards expected of me”.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien was Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric until he resigned as archbishop on Feb. 25 and said he would not take part in the conclave to elect a new pope. The announcement followed newspaper allegations of inappropriate behaviour with priests.

“I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal,” he said in a statement posted on the Scottish Catholic media office website on Sunday.

“To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise. I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland.”