Britain’s senior Catholic clergyman resigns after being implicated in sex scandal

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's most senior Roman Catholic clergyman

Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:59PM GMT


Britain's most senior Roman Catholic clergyman has stepped down after being implicated in possible sexual abuse scandals dating back 30 years ago, local media reported.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who had been reported to the Vatican by three priests and a former priest in Scotland over inappropriate behaviour, said that he would not attend the election of Pope Benedict's replacement, which will take place soon.

Keith O'Brien, an outspoken opponent of gay marriage who had condemned homosexuality as immoral, has been accused by the four of developing inappropriate relationship with them at the time and demanded his immediate resignation.

They complained to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, that they had fallen victim to O’Brien’s inappropriate behaviour at the time.

Their claims had been submitted to the nuncio’s office the week before Pope Benedict's resignation on 11 February, nurturing speculations that Benedict's shock move may be connected to further scandals to come. Allegations of sexual abuse by members of the church have dogged the papacy of Benedict XVI, who is to step down as pope at the end of this week.

The Vatican said the pope, who steps down on Thursday, had accepted O'Brien's resignation as archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.

The cardinal, who last week advocated allowing Catholic priests to marry as many found it difficult to cope with celibacy, rejected the allegations and was seeking legal advice, his spokesman 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," O'Brien said in a statement, which made no reference to the recent allegations.

He said he would not attend the election next month of a new pope, saying: "I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me - but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor."

MOL/JR/HE

Source

.