Cardinal asks for forgiveness after sex conduct admission
CARDINAL Keith O'Brien has admitted that his sexual conduct had at times "fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal".
The cardinal, who was Britain's most senior Catholic cleric, stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh last week – a day after three priests and a former priest made allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour against him.
In a statement issued by the Catholic Church in Scotland last night, he apologised and asked forgiveness from those he had "offended".
It is understood he is currently out of the country and will not be attending the Conclave to elect the successor to Pope Benedict.
PRINT THE VOUVHER TODAY AND SAVE UP TO 10% ON ALL POYTAILS. OFFER LASTS FOR ONLY 10 DAYS.
OVER 50 STYLES ON DISPLAY.
Terms: ONE VOUCHER PER TRANSACTION.
Contact: 01332 418268
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
The statement said: "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."
Cardinal O'Brien, who recently advocated priests marrying, has been an outspoken opponent of plans to legalise same-sex marriage.
Last year his stance earned him the Bigot of the Year award from the gay rights group Stonewall.
4 Comments
by janine2011
Monday, March 04 2013, 1:53PM
“If he hadn't been outed no doubt he would have carried on as a priest, archbishop and cardinal. I wonder how many times he had been moved from one parish to another as a priest? The pope was no better as he covered up child abuse by priests for years, moving priests to different parishes. The day he became pope was the day we stopped going to mass and haven't set foot in a church since. Nor will I. No doubt more will come out of the woodwork in the near future.
The only thing the Vatican can do if there is to be any redemption is allow priests and nuns to marry the same as a vicar can, to cling to the belief that they must remain celibate is asking for more trouble.”
by Wafty
Monday, March 04 2013, 12:05PM
“I wonder if those who made the allegations feel that 'offended' is quite the right word for whatever he may have done - there certainly doesn't appear to be much acceptance of guilt in his 'apology'....”
by gerryegan
Monday, March 04 2013, 11:34AM
“i was brought up a catholic and wen i was old eneough to be able to make up my own mind i saw through religon and deemd them all two faced they all preach one thing and do another you have christisns killing christians muslems killing muslems they preach heaven and hell they preach hell because they no most people worry about death this way they keep you under ther control so you keep on given them money and your mind. just do your own thing and try and do your best to others you dond need religon to do that.”
by Fasty
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:32AM
“Funny how he's only sorry after he's been caught ;)”