Cardinal Keith O'brien Had Long Term Physical Relationship with Accuser

By Hayley Dixon
The Telegraph
March 22, 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9948022/Cardinal-Keith-OBrien-had-long-term-physical-relationship-with-accuser.html

Cardinal Keith O’Brien who resigned over 'inappropriate' behaviour Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

After a series of allegations and several complaints to the Vatican about his sexual behaviour towards priests in the 1980s, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland admitted he was guilty of misconduct and stepped down.

It is believed that the allegations against him may have been prompted by anger at his hypocrisy as he condemned same-sex marriages, even describing homosexuality as a "moral degradation".

One alleged victim, who quit the priesthood in the middle of the last decade but has since re-joined a parish on the continent with the help of the cardinal, is known to have been in regular telephone contact with him until recently.

He was a frequent visitor to the cardinal’s official residence in Edinburgh, the Herald in Scotland reported.

At least two of his accusers, all of whom had known him for decades, are known to be in same-sex relationships and had believed to have been angered by his double standards after he refused to tone down his statements.

The first complainant, who has since taken leave of absence from the church and is understood to be in a relationship with an Anglican priest, alleged he was assaulted the day O’Brien was made a cardinal.

A senior church figure has said that there are “many questions” being asked about their relationship.

The man’s September 2012 complaint led to four others coming forward and raising issues with the Vatican.

One senior church figure said: "These guys, we now know, were part of an inner circle. In the 30 years since these allegations took place there's been ample time to complain.

“The Cardinal has had a huge profile for the past decade. But the door wasn't just shut on them, it was bolted in the past 18 months.”

They made the accusations to “silence” the cardinal and “take him down” just as he was about to retire, it was said.

Another church insider that it was “revenge” timed to “destroy O’Brien” while others speculated that the reaction to his anti-gay rhetoric was at the heart of the matter.

"One particular priest was a very close friend of the Cardinal. It seemed to some to be a very unusual friendship," a clerical source said.