Axed Archbishop Keith O’brien Is to Become Roamin’ Catholic

By Gail Cameron
Scottish Sun
May 16, 2013

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4929445/Axed-archbishop-Keith-OBrien-is-to-become-Roamin-Catholic.html

[with timeline]

HAMED Cardinal Keith O’Brien has been forced into months of exile by Pope Francis over the gay sex scandal that cost him his job.

The disgraced 75-year-old cleric — who admitted “inappropriate conduct” over claims by four priests — was ordered by the Vatican to quit Scotland for “prayer and penance”.

In a statement yesterday, the Catholic Church confirmed his departure was “in agreement with the Holy Father”. It said: “His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien... will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance.”

It added: “Any decision regarding future arrangements for his eminence shall be agreed with the Holy See.”

O’Brien was last night seeking forgiveness in another secret foreign bolthole — after weeks of globetrotting in a bid to dodge the scandal.

But mystery surrounded the destination of Scotland’s top Catholic — who was sacked as Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrews following the sex allegations.

It emerged yesterday the fallen churchman, originally from Ballycastle, Co Antrim, was spotted flying to Rome’s Ciampino airport last week.

There was no sign of him at his residences in Edinburgh or Dunbar, East Lothian, last night.

It comes after he went into hiding for two months as the scandal erupted in February — reportedly spending time in a secret location in England and also in Portugal.

Last night a Church insider said: “We’ve no idea where or when he will go. In fact, he could be off by now.

“He probably won’t head to Ireland as he has no family there.

“Rome will have to agree on talks with him.

“But it would have been better if he had done this himself rather than be forced out to give the Church a chance to heal.”

Yesterday air passenger Dickson McDonald, 52, told how he sat two rows behind the Cardinal on a flight from Edinburgh Airport to Rome last Wednesday.

He claimed the churchman — who walked with the aid of a stick — boarded the 6.30am Ryanair service with two other men, and remained sombre throughout the 2hr 50min trip.

The retired railway worker, of Livingston, said: “I saw him checking in, then I was right behind him going through security.

“He was wearing a jacket, slacks and a shirt. He didn’t look like he was going on holiday — he wasn’t full of smiles.

“He barely talked to the other two guys he was with. Lots of people recognised him — they were nudging each other.”

Mr McDonald claimed when they landed in Rome, the Cardinal was whisked away from the airport in a white people carrier.

Church sources yesterday welcomed the Vatican’s action — but claimed it had come as a surprise.

One said: “We were kept in the dark — any dealings have been directly between Rome and the Cardinal. But the hierarchy’s very pleased, it’s what they wanted.

“It’s taken time to act as the matter coincided with a papal vacancy, a conclave and the election of a new Pope. In Vatican terms the Scottish problem has been small by comparison. Now the Rome bureaucracy’s kicking back.”

The source added: “When he left in February, he was told in no uncertain terms that his high-profile days were at an end and his public life was over.

“He did not anticipate the scale of the situation. When told that he would need to live the rest of his life outwith the public eye which he craves, he asked: ‘Am I to live like a hermit?’.

“He was told that’s exactly what it amounts to.”

O’Brien’s fall from grace began last October when a complaint was made against him by a Scots priest, who wrote to the Vatican.

In February, allegations from four men were lodged with the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini, as Pope Benedict announced his retirement.

O’Brien resigned immediately when it emerged that complaints against him included ‘lewd behaviour’ and ‘drunken fumblings’.

He missed voting in new Pope Francis and went into hiding.

The four accusers were advised to stay quiet before being told O’Brien would leave the spotlight. He has since apologised and asked for forgiveness.

Earlier this month we told how he was back in Scotland to quit his mansion in posh Morningside, Edinburgh, for a church property in Dunbar, East Lothian.

But Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow, acting as president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, is thought to have written to the Papal Nuncio in London after O’Brien’s return sparked a storm.

In an exclusive interview just two weeks ago the Cardinal told The Scottish Sun: “I’m trying to do my best to live a good Christian life myself now.”

The Catholic Church in Scotland was unavailable for comment last night.