Cardinal Keith O’brien Faces New Abuse Claims

Scotsman
March 15, 2013

http://www.scotsman.com/news/cardinal-keith-o-brien-faces-new-abuse-claims-1-2839118

Keith O'Brien. Picture: PA

Cardinal Keith O’Brien is facing legal action over new allegations of sexual misconduct from a former trainee priest, who claims he was abused by him as a teenager.

The former seminarian, who had known the cardinal since childhood, is staying anonymous, but said he had decided to come forward after the allegations of inappropriate behaviour which forced Cardinal O’Brien to quit as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh last month.

The latest allegations relate to a period in the 1980s when the man, now in his 50s, attended a senior seminary college, following four years at Aberdeen’s Blairs College for trainee priests.

He left the priesthood several months after Cardinal O’Brien, who was then rector of Blairs, allegedly groped and kissed him during a visit to the unnamed seminary.

The man said he had instigated legal proceedings against both the cardinal and the Catholic Church and was prepared to face “Keith” in a courtroom in the hope his actions will encourage others, who may have been reluctant to complain about similar experiences, to come forward.

He said until last month’s allegations, he had put the cardinal’s alleged conduct down to a one-off act of weakness, but now believes it was premeditated and part of a pattern of behaviour.

The man said Cardinal O’Brien invited him to his room after dinner in the seminary. He said: “We’d some sort of drink in his room. He was just chatting away about the past, the future and so on.

“I can’t remember the exact phrase he used, but he told me he would always look after me and how good a priest I’d be. Until this stage I’d thought how excellent it would be to be a priest in his diocese. But that’s when it happened . . . after a few minutes he released me and I was able to make my excuses and go. As an adult looking back I ask myself how it could have happened. Neither of us was drunk.”

His solicitor, Cameron Fyfe, described his client as “totally credible” and his claims as “consistent and measured”.

He said: “I am currently preparing the case, but hope in all the current circumstances that the Church may take a reasonable stand and consider settlement of the claim without the expense and trauma of a court action.”

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: “The Church is disturbed to hear of these allegations. Any complaints raised will be taken very seriously.”