Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigns as Archbishop

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, is stepping down as leader of the Scottish Catholic Church.

It follows allegations - which he contests - of inappropriate behaviour towards priests dating from the 1980s.

In a statement, he apologised to those he had offended during his ministry.

The cardinal confirmed he would not take part in the election for a successor to the Pope - leaving Britain unrepresented in the election.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21572724

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Statement here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21575931

[Eugene]

1. :wow:

That was fast!

[bemildred]

2. Heads are rolling, blood all over the floor.

And the ghosts of millions of damned and tortured souls are smiling.

"Judge not, that you be not judged."

[goclark]

3. Abt. 10 years ago I saw a photo

of a " Home for Nuns" located in Maryland.

When they were renovating, they found Dead Babies under the Walls by the street.

Tried to find that photo today with no luck.

[Franker65]

4. Hopefully they'll all be gone sooner or later

He should have gone earlier, give it time and the whole church will follow

[magical thyme]

5. good riddance...

Next?

[LiberalFighter]

6. Too bad all the cardinals aren't forced to resign.

Then how would pope be elected?

[immoderate]

7. It's hard to imagine the world without a Pope!

Wait for it...
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--imm

[Myrina]

8. Not that this makes it any better, but ...

.... I presume the priests he was inappropriate towards were at least Adults?

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Yes, though he might have been said to be in charge of one at age 20

It is understood that the first allegation against the cardinal dates back to 1980. The complainant, who is now married, was then a 20-year-old seminarian at St Andrew's College, Drygrange, where O'Brien was his "spiritual director". The Observer understands that the statement claims O'Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers.

The seminarian says he was too frightened to report the incident, but says his personality changed afterwards, and his teachers regularly noted that he seemed depressed. He was ordained, but he told the nuncio in his statement that he resigned when O'Brien was promoted to bishop. "I knew then he would always have power over me. It was assumed I left the priesthood to get married. I did not. I left to preserve my integrity."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/23/cardinal-keith-o-brien-accused-inappropriate

So that might be held to be inappropriate, ignoring the Catholic ban on same-sex relationships - an approach from an instructor to a student is dubious.

[pampango]

10. Is he the UK cardinal that spoke publicly a few days ago in favor of priests being able to marry?

If so, is it a coincidence that this scandal emerged right afterwards? Or perhaps he made the controversial statement knowing he was on his way out.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Yes, that's him

I can't work out the timing at all. Given there are 4 people complaining, they must have been talking to each other before his call for allowing priests to marry was published, though.

[PATRICK]

12. The same guy

bashing gays and gay rights(per the article) and has driven an already short supply of clerics out of service? Sounds more like a plea bargain more than a belief in reform.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Benedict forced resignation of Britain's most senior Roman Catholic ...

...in attempt to minimise the impact of allegations

The pope has forced the abrupt resignation of Britain's most senior Roman Catholic as the church made a frantic attempt to minimise the impact of allegations of "inappropriate acts" committed by Cardinal Keith O'Brien against fellow priests.
...
The cardinal revealed in his statement that he had been asked by the outgoing pope to stand down immediately. Already due to retire next month, the cardinal stated: "The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today."

Senior Catholics said his resignation was intended to stop the allegations turning into a crisis. The church is already under pressure over unrelated abuse and corruption scandals in other dioceses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/25/pope-forces-out-keith-obrien

This now seems the general conclusion - that the Vatican/Pope told O'Brien he had to go at once.

[diabeticman]

14. Cardinal Keith O'Brien. . . I seriously have to wonder IF he had a good chance of becoming Pope and

This current pope was trying to get who he wants in the office. . . someone who will keep the truth from coming out.