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Washington Post

Britain’s top Catholic cleric resigns after accusations of inappropriate behavior

By Anthony Faiola

LONDON — Pope Benedict XVI on Monday accepted the immediate resignation of Britain’s highest-ranking Roman Catholic cleric, effectively forcing Cardinal Keith O’Brien to step down two days after allegations surfaced publicly that he had engaged in inappropriate behavior with priests.

The latest scandal to engulf the church involves one of its most strident conservatives and influential clerics, and comes just weeks before the conclave to select a successor to Benedict, who unexpectedly announced his retirement on Feb. 11.

The nature of the allegations could cast a shadow over the church’s moral authority in Europe – the continent where the church is losing the most ground globally. O’Brien, the head of the church in Scotland, had emerged as a leading voice in Britain against homosexuality. He has described gay marriage as “grotesque” and same-sex couples as “immoral.”

O’Brien has denied the allegations against him — first made public Saturday on the Web site of Britain’s Observer newspaper — and retained legal counsel. But on Monday, he issued a statement saying he was stepping down immediately because of a decision taken by the pope.

biobengal wrote:There is a well-established subculture of homosexuality in the RC church... which is fine if many in the church weren't such self-flagellating hypocrites.

The pictures emerged as Britain's most senior Roman Catholic yesterday apologised for his failures after being ordered to quit by the Pope as a further sex scandal swept the church.
Denial: 74-year-old Cardinal Keith O'Brien

Quit: Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned as Archbishop of St Andrew's and Edinburgh

Cardinal O’Brien said sorry as it was revealed that he must resign now rather than wait until his 75th birthday, which falls next month.

In a statement the Cardinal, 74, said: ‘Looking back over my years of ministry: for any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended.’

The Vatican instruction follows allegations made by three un-named priests and one former priest who say that they were subjected to ‘inappropriate’ approaches by the cardinal 30 years ago.

The complaints were made to the Vatican’s representative in London early last month – before Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, but after Cardinal O’Brien had made known to Rome that he wished to resign ‘in view of his 75th birthday’.

The sudden departure of the cardinal leaves the church grappling with the implications of a new sex scandal affecting its senior leadership and denies British Roman Catholics any influence on the voting when 116 cardinals gather to elect Benedict’s replacement next month.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z2M0q1go4b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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D1B wrote:Fuck wad O'Brien with conviced serial predator Saville and two children.

The pictures emerged as Britain's most senior Roman Catholic yesterday apologised for his failures after being ordered to quit by the Pope as a further sex scandal swept the church.
Denial: 74-year-old Cardinal Keith O'Brien

Quit: Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned as Archbishop of St Andrew's and Edinburgh

Cardinal O’Brien said sorry as it was revealed that he must resign now rather than wait until his 75th birthday, which falls next month.

In a statement the Cardinal, 74, said: ‘Looking back over my years of ministry: for any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended.’

The Vatican instruction follows allegations made by three un-named priests and one former priest who say that they were subjected to ‘inappropriate’ approaches by the cardinal 30 years ago.

The complaints were made to the Vatican’s representative in London early last month – before Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, but after Cardinal O’Brien had made known to Rome that he wished to resign ‘in view of his 75th birthday’.

The sudden departure of the cardinal leaves the church grappling with the implications of a new sex scandal affecting its senior leadership and denies British Roman Catholics any influence on the voting when 116 cardinals gather to elect Benedict’s replacement next month.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z2M0q1go4b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook