Pope accepts resignation of UK’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, who has been accused of ‘inappropriate acts’
The Guardian (UK)
Monday 25 February 2013 11.57 GMT
Cardinal Keith O’Brien is to resign amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Photograph: David Cheskin/PA
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the UK’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, has resigned as the head of the Scottish Catholic church after being accused of “inappropriate acts” towards fellow priests.
News that Pope Benedict had accepted the cardinal’s resignation as archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh came after the Observer disclosed a series of allegations by three priests and one former priest.
O’Brien has denied the allegations and had been expected to continue in his post as archbishop until mid-March, when he was due to retire at age 75.
However, in a statement released by the church on Monday, it emerged that the pope had accepted O’Brien’s resignation a week ago, on 18 February.
In the statement, O’Brien apologised to any people he had let down and said he did not want the controversy to overshadow the election of the new pope.
“I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest,” he 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.”
His resignation means the cardinal will not now take part in the election of a successor to Pope Benedict. This will leave Britain unrepresented in the process, as O’Brien was the only cardinal in the British Catholic churches with a vote in the conclave.
Although Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the archbishop emeritus of Westminster and former leader of Catholics in England and Wales, will attend pre-conclave meetings, he will not have a vote in the election itself as cardinals aged 80 and over are ineligible to vote. He is 80.
O’Brien, who missed celebrating mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, had been due to fly out to the Vatican on Tuesday for the conclave.
His resignation is a heavy blow to the church and Benedict, whose papacy has been beset by repeated controversies over misconduct by clergy in Europe and the US and allegations of corruption and incompetence at the Vatican.
However, with the Vatican and Benedict’s successor facing a series of serious challenges to its reputation, O’Brien’s speedy retirement will allow the church to move quickly to settle this controversy.
The Observer reported that the four men came forward last week to demand his resignation largely because the complainants did not want O’Brien taking part in the papal election.
O’Brien said he had already agreed with Benedict that he would step down on 17 March as he was “approaching the age of seventy-five and at times in indifferent health”. The pope had now agreed he could resign immediately, he said, forcing the church to find an “apostolic administrator” to run the diocese until a new archbishop could be appointed.
Confirming he would not now go to the conclave, O’Brien said: “I thank Pope Benedict XVI for his kindness and courtesy to me and on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Scotland, I wish him a long and happy retirement.
“I also ask God’s blessing on my brother cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor. I will not join them for this conclave in person. I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me, but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor. However, I will pray with them and for them that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they will make the correct choice for the future good of the church.
“May God, who has blessed me so often in my ministry, continue to bless and help me in the years which remain for me on Earth and may he shower his blessings on all the peoples of Scotland especially those I was privileged to serve in a special way in the archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.”
Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, said he had learned of the cardinal’s decision with “the greatest sadness”.
He said: “In all of my dealings with the cardinal, he has been a considerate and thoughtful leader of the Catholic church in Scotland, stalwart in his faith but constructive in his approach.
“The hugely successful visit of Pope Benedict in 2010 was a highlight of his cardinalship and symbolised the key role of the Catholic church in Scottish society.”
Salmond said it would be a “great pity if a lifetime of positive work was lost from comment in the circumstances of his resignation”. He added: “None of us know the outcome of the investigation into the claims made against him but I have found him to be a good man for his church and country.”
Austen Ivereigh, a Catholic writer and co-ordinator of Catholic Voices, said he was not surprised that the church had moved so quickly following the emergence of the allegations.
“I think the speed of the announcement has everything to do with the fact that these accusations were made on the eve of the papal election,” he said. “It was important not to distract from the pope and the election process, and I think frankly it was a necessary act and [O’Brien] did it for the good of the church.”
Ivereigh said the rapid response showed both the church’s “renewed transparency and accountability” and its desire for the election of Benedict’s successor to proceed as uncontroversially as possible.
He described O’Brien as a “very affable, warm and hospitable” man who was always unafraid to speak his mind. “He’s never been considered one of the high-flying cardinals; he doesn’t know Rome that well or have fluent Italian and so he’s never been a cardinal who has been as significant in the Vatican as Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor,” said Ivereigh.
“But he’s been a very stalwart defender of the Scottish church’s stances on various issues and he has been valued for his forthrightness and directness – even though I think sometimes some of his pronouncements have not been judiciously phrased.”
Ivereigh also pointed out that although O’Brien’s decision not to attend the conclave left British Catholics without a vote in the election of the next pope, it did not leave them without a voice.
“It’s important to remember that it’s not just the conclave where cardinals bring their influence to bear,” he said. “In many ways the more important time over the next few weeks will be the general congregations when the cardinals meet together before the conclave to discuss the state of the world and the state of the church – and Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor will be present at those because the over-80 cardinals are part of those discussions; they’re just not allowed to vote.
“I think the perspectives of the British church will still make themselves felt within the college because of Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor’s presence and influence.”
O’Brien has been an outspoken critic of gay rights, denouncing plans for the legalisation of same-sex marriage as “harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved”. He was named bigot of the year in 2012 by the gay rights group Stonewall because of his central role in opposing gay marriage laws in Scotland.
Colin Macfarlane, the director of Stonewall Scotland, called for a full inquiry into the claims against the former cardinal. “We trust that there will now be a full investigation into the serious allegations made against ex-cardinal O’Brien,” Macfarlane said. “We hope that his successor will show a little more Christian charity towards openly gay people than the former cardinal did himself.”
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Cardinal Keith O’Brien resigns – full statements
Cardinal says he tendered resignation months ago, and pope has decided it will now take effect
The Guardian
Pope’s statement on Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s resignation
The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has accepted on the 18 February 2013 the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien from the pastoral governance of the archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. This information will be announced and published in the Osservatore Romano of Monday 25 February 2013.
The cardinal had already presented last November his resignation in view of his 75th birthday on 17 March 2013, and it was accepted by the Holy Father with the formula “nunc pro tunc” (now for later). Given the imminent vacant see, the Holy Father has now decided to accept the said resignation definitively.
O’Brien’s statement reacting to the acceptance of his resignation
Approaching the age of 75 and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation as archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago. I was happy to know that he accepted my resignation “nunc pro tunc” – (now – but to take effect later) on 13 November 2012. The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today, 25 February 2013, and that he will appoint an apostolic administrator to govern the archdiocese in my place until my successor as archbishop is appointed. In the meantime I will give every assistance to the apostolic administrator and to our new archbishop, once he is appointed, as I prepare to move into retirement.
I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest. 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.
I thank Pope Benedict XVI for his kindness and courtesy to me and on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Scotland, I wish him a long and happy retirement. I also ask God’s blessing on my brother cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor. I will not join them for this conclave in person. I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me – but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor. However, I will pray with them and for them that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they will make the correct choice for the future good of the church.
May God who has blessed me so often in my ministry continue to bless and help me in the years which remain for me on Earth and may he shower his blessings on all the peoples of Scotland especially those I was privileged to serve in a special way in the archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
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Celibacy: Cardinal O’Brien Strikes Again…
Catholic Truth (a Blogger in Scotland)
February 22, 2013
Britain’s most senior Catholic has said he believes priests should be able to marry if they wish to do so.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien said it was clear many priests struggled to cope with celibacy, and should be able to marry and have children.
The cardinal will be part of the conclave that will choose the next Pope.
It is well known that Cardinal O’Brien was forced to make an extended Profession of Faith prior to being given the red hat. This extended Profession of Faith included the key teachings from which he had previously publicly dissented. Below are those teachings which he now promised to uphold – read it and ask yourself what kind of man is this, who would solemnly promise to uphold, among other teachings, ecclesiastical celibacy, in order to gain promotion, and then, at just about every opportunity, attack the discipline of celibacy. Remember, he concluded his promise of fidelity with these words: “So help me God, and these Holy Scriptures which I touch with my hand”. Did he lie when he said those words? Is he a deliberate liar? Is not this tantamount to blasphemy? Has this solemn Profession of Faith slipped his memory? Or do I protest too much?
As a condition of receiving the red hat, the then Archbishop Keith Patrick O’Brien made his public Profession of Faith and then added, at Vatican insistence the following:
Furthermore, I having been called to be Cardinal by pope John Paul II, state that I firmly hold and maintain all and everything taught by the Holy Catholic Church concerning faith and morals, whether solemnly defined or asserted as part of her ordinary Magisterium, especially those doctrines touching the mystery of the Church as the Body of Christ, the Sacraments, the sacrifice of the Mass and the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.
I further state that I accept and intend to defend the law on ecclesiastical celibacy as it is proposed by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church; I accept and promise to defend the ecclesiastical teaching about the immorality of the homosexual act; I accept and promise to promulgate always and everywhere what the Church’s Magisterium teaches on contraception. So help me God and these Holy Scriptures which I touch with my hand. END
Any thinking Bible-fearing Protestant, along with all true Catholics, will be appalled beyond words at this insult to Sacred Scripture by a Cardinal who has blatantly gone back on his sacred and very public promise before God.
I found out about this via a phone call from a journalist seeking a quote. I gave him a quote. Trust me. Of course, typical journalist, he failed to report the key information about the extended Profession of Faith, in his article, which explains why I said the Cardinal was dishonest. I told him about it and tried to drive home its implications. You do wonder, don’t you? Anyway, read The Scotsman article here. Then tell us what YOU think. Is the Cardinal, as I believe, an unconscionable scoundrel or is there some explanation that I’m missing, for his zeal in the cause of ending priestly celibacy?
There has been some movement in the Vatican to silence dissenters in Ireland. Here’s a message from Scotland – HELP!
In addition to the above announcement on the news tonight (Feb.25/13) , there was mention of two more boys (men now) who came forward who were abused by (then) Fr. Gary Hoskins (left priesthood a decade ago maybe?)in 1984/85. It was the Diocese of St. George’s then. I believe it was CBC.
Also, I read an interesting article from a German magazine yesterday – Spiegel Online.
Scroll down to the article about the Pope’s resignation. It is a 4-part story. Hard politics. The title of the article is: Catholic Church Searches for Renewal and a New Pope – Spiegel Online
I just posted a comment here about the new Hoskins charges MS. If you scroll up the page you will see that he seemed to have left the priesthood in the late 90s – and that after he was recycled into and served in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
The news was on CBC Here and Now. There should be more in the news tomorrow. Please, all of you good people in Newfoundland, pass on news of any coverage and/or news regarding ex-priest Gary Hoskins.
I wonder if he is going to be let off to serve GOD IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE TO HIS AGE AND HEALTH. Their is a need for revolt at the grass roots in the catholic faith.
My mistake Sylvia. The abuse happened in 1984/85. He left the priesthood about 10 years after that when things went sour in Toronto where he was last transferred. Where he lurks now, no one knows.
I am a Scot now living in England and by now you will all know that O’Brien resigned at the behest of the pope. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21584820
This is a big, big deal for us. Understand that O’Brien was the SOLE representative in the voting enclave for the new pope, representing us 5 million Roman Catholics in Great Britain. This means – there is now NO VOTE for Great Britain.
Needless to say, more is yet to come. It may be hitting us in the UK now, but the network of abuse and coverup will be exposed the top levels, around the globe. The accusations from the 3 priests reached the current pope on February 11, just days before the resignation. Storm clouds are brewing.
I believe the next ten years will be the most trying times for the RC church, ever, even beyond the reformation crisis (referenced in the BBC article).
On a final note, my respect to the priest who stated in one of the first BBC articles…along the lines of the need to understand “the relationship between a priest and an archbishop” as the bishop is the one a priest professes obedience to at their ordination. I wept reading that, thinking of my grandson, just now joining the priesthood. I could understand that fear. It would be hard to speak up – you would be like a child. It also made me wonder if a whole network exists. And if this is about power, not even about sex? I secretly wonder if anyone should ever declare “obedience” to another living being.