SCOTLAND
Scotsman
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien following a meeting between the two.
It is understood that he will be reduced to strictly private life and no longer perform the key duties of a Cardinal, it has been confirmed.
The Cardinal, had been the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Vatican, after he was forced to resign in February 2013 after three serving priests and one former priest come forward with allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
In what is an unprecedented action, Cardinal O’Brien has now removed himself from the key duties that pertain to the office of Cardinal and the election of any future Pope.
In a statement Cardinal O’Brien, the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, echoed his sentiments from February 2013 when the allegations first emerged: “I wish to repeat the apology which I made to the Catholic Church and the people of Scotland some two years ago now on 3rd March 2013. I then said that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me. For that I am deeply sorry. I thank Pope Francis for his fatherly care of me and of those I have offended in any way. I will continue to play no part in the public life of the Church in Scotland; and will dedicate the rest of my life in retirement, praying for those I have offended in any way.”
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