Shamed Cardinal Keith O’brien ‘had Priest Lover’

By Cameron Hay
Scottish Sun
March 22, 2013

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4854264/Shamed-Cardinal-Keith-OBrien-had-priest-lover.html

SHAMED Cardinal Keith O’Brien was yesterday accused of having a secret long-term fling with a former priest.

His lover is believed to be one of four clerics who brought about the top Catholic’s downfall after complaining about his “inappropriate behaviour”.

Disgraced O’Brien, 74 — axed as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh after the scandal broke last month — is thought to have had a romance with the man stretching over many years.

It is understood he was part of the Cardinal’s “inner circle” and often visited his official residence in Morningside, Edinburgh.

One clerical source last night said: “It seemed to some to be a very unusual friendship.”

Insiders say O’Brien’s axing was sparked by gay priests angry at his hypocrisy in branding homosexuality a “degradation” and opposition to gay marriage.

One said: “I believe they wanted to silence O’Brien. A decision was taken to go public and take him down.”

Last week we told how O’Brien is being sued by an ex-trainee priest who claims he groped and kissed him.

A Catholic Church spokesman last night said: “A number of complaints about Cardinal O’Brien were passed to the Vatican.

“Whether they were precipitated by his comments on homosexuality isn’t known.”

Contact: cameron.hay@the-sun.co.uk