Irish-Born Cardinal to Leave Scotland Amid Sex Scandal

Irish Examiner
May 15, 2013

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/irish-born-cardinal-to-leave-scotland-amid-sex-scandal-594538.html


Cardinal Keith O'Brien, originally from Ballycastle, Co Antrim, is to leave Scotland for several months after admitting inappropriate sexual conduct during his church career, the Vatican has said.

Britain's most senior Catholic cleric stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh earlier this year after priests made allegations against him.

A Vatican statement said: "His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien... will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance.

"Any decision regarding future arrangements for his eminence shall be agreed with the Holy See."

The cardinal stepped down as leader of the Scottish Catholic Church at the end of February after admitting that his sexual conduct "had fallen beneath the standards" expected of him during his almost 50-year career.

He indicated that he would not contest claims by three priests and a former priest of inappropriate behaviour dating back to the 1980s, and intended to retire permanently from the public life of the church.

It was reported earlier this month that the cardinal was to settle in Dunbar, East Lothian.

The Vatican said today his departure from Scotland was "in agreement with the Holy Father".

When he resigned the cardinal issued as apology saying: "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.

"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."

The cardinal had been the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 1985.

Ordained as a priest in 1965, he was proclaimed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in October 2003.

One of Scotland's most outspoken opponents of moves to legalise same-sex marriage, he was last year named "Bigot of the Year" by gay rights group Stonewall.