UK's top cardinal (Keith O'Brien) accused of 'inappropriate acts' by priests

[Eugene]

Source: The Observer

UK's top cardinal accused of 'inappropriate acts' by priests

Three priests and former priest report Cardinal Keith O'Brien to
Vatican over claims stretching back 33 years

Catherine Deveney
The Observer, Saturday 23 February 2013 21.31 GMT

Three priests and a former priest in Scotland have reported the most senior Catholic clergyman in Britain, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behaviour stretching back 30 years.

The four, from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, have complained to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, and demanded O'Brien's immediate resignation. A spokesman for the cardinal said that the claims were contested.

O'Brien, who is due to retire next month, has been an outspoken opponent of gay rights, condemning homosexuality as immoral, opposing gay adoption, and most recently arguing that same-sex marriages would be "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved". Last year he was named "bigot of the year" by the gay rights charity Stonewall.

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

[hrmjustin]

1. I wonder how the church will treat these priests now.

[mr blur]

2. From reading the piece,

It would seem that he's been protesting too much.

Last year he was named "bigot of the year" by the gay rights charity Stonewall.

A little self-hate, perhaps?

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Cardinal Keith O'Brien misses Sunday Mass after accusations

Cardinal O'Brien was due to take Mass in St Mary's Cathedral to celebrate the eight years of Pope Benedict holding office.

But he did not appear and Bishop Robson, who is auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, made a statement at the cathedral.

He said: "A number of allegations of inappropriate behaviour have been made against the cardinal.

"The cardinal has sought legal advice and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time. There will be further statements in due course.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21565750

[Eugene]

4. Pope considering response to alleged 'inappropriate acts' by UK cardinal

Source: The Guardian

Pope considering response to alleged 'inappropriate acts' by UK cardinal

Severin Carrell, Catherine Deveney, John Hooper and Sam Jones
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 24 February 2013 15.24 GMT

The pope has been told about allegations that the UK's most senior Catholic had been accused of "inappropriate acts" against fellow priests, and is considering how to respond.

Hours after the allegations were published by the Observer, the Vatican confirmed that written allegations against Cardinal Keith O'Brien by three serving priests and one former priest were being studied by Pope Benedict XVI.

As the pope gave his last pontifical blessing to crowds in St Peter's Square, a spokesman for the Vatican said "the pope is informed about the problem and the issue is now in his hands".

Cardinal O'Brien, the UK's most senior Roman Catholic and head of the Scottish Catholic church, missed giving mass at his cathedral on Sunday, citing legal advice. He contests the allegations, which date back 30 years to the 1980s, when O'Brien was a rector of a seminary in Aberdeen and then archbishop.

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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/24/pope-considering-response-inappropriate-acts-cardinal

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. And now he's resigned, with immediate effect - will not take part in pope election

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

[Phillip McCleod]

6. perhaps at long last

the catholic hierarchy is coming unraveled. not for the first time but perhaps like never before.

[goldent]

7. Seems to be it's a well needed cleansing...

Hopefully we will someday look back at this time as a difficult one, but one that ultimately led to an improved RCC.

[cbayer]

8. I think you may be right.

The coverage on NewsHour and AlJazeera last night really felt like that.

They have an opportunity here. I would love to see them seize it.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Note two earlier threads on the self-righteous Cardinal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x301410#301451

http://www.democraticunderground.com/121818561




At least the people whom he's said to have sexually harrassed are adults, which may put him slightly above some of the other creeps in the church hierachy.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Cardinal Keith O'Brien sorry for sexual misconduct

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has admitted that his sexual conduct has at times "fallen beneath the standards expected of me".
...
The statement issued through the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland read: "In recent days certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them."However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.

"To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise.

"I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21649475

[cbayer]

11. What he needs to apologize for now is his stance against GLBT civil rights.

Then I might be inclined to forgive him.