Cardinal Keith O'Brien to Leave Scotland

By Angus Howarth
The Scotsman
May 15, 2013

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/cardinal-keith-o-brien-to-leave-scotland-1-2931030

Cardinal Keith O'Brien is to leave the Vatican

Cardinal Keith O’Brien is to leave Scotland for a period of “prayer and penance”, the Vatican confirmed today.

He stood down from his position after acknowledging sexual misconduct.

A statement said O’Brien, who was Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric until his resignation in February, would be leaving his country “for the same reasons” that he decided not to participate in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien recused himself from the March conclave that elected Pope Francis pontiff after unnamed priests’ allegations that he acted inappropriately toward them.

O’Brien subsequently acknowledged he had engaged in sexual misbehaviour. He resigned as archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, apologised and promised to stay out of the church’s public life.

Today, the Vatican said O’Brien, Britain’s highest-ranking Catholic leader, had decided in agreement with the Pope to leave Scotland for several months of “prayer, penance and spiritual renewal.” A statement says his future arrangements would be decided on in agreement with the Holy See.