Disgraced Cardinal Keith O'brien Gets to Keep His Title Despite Resigning over His "Sexual Conduct"

Daily Record
March 20, 2015

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/disgraced-cardinal-keith-obrien-gets-5370706

O'BRIEN stepped down from the archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh in February 2013 after three priests and a former priest made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him.

Disgraced: Cardinal Keith O'Brien

THE Pope has allowed sex shame Cardinal Keith O’Brien to keep his title despite being investigated over “inappropriate behaviour” towards other priests.

Pope Francis is understood to have made it clear to O’Brien that while he can still call himself Cardinal, he would now lead a strictly private life.

But the decision to let him retain his title has been blasted by anti-abuse campaigners who claim the Catholic Church are still covering up crimes by priests.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said: “This is not progress. Clear and firm Vatican action against complicit bishops in covering up predator clerics would be new.

“They allow clerics who commit sexual crimes to step down but they refuse to discipline them. Until they do, little or nothing will change.”

The cardinal stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after being accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards priests in the 1980s.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien

O’Brien will no longer take part in any religious, public or civil events.

He will also not be allowed to perform weddings, christenings, last rites or funerals or hear confessions and will have no say in the running of the Church.

Last year the Pope sent personal envoy Archbishop Charles Scicluna to investigate the claims by four priests that O’Brien had inappropriate sexual conduct with them. But the Church have come under fire for refusing to publish the outcome of the probe. The results, which were sent to the Vatican last week, are known only to the Pope and Scicluna.

Pope Francis

In a statement, O’Brien said: “I wish to repeat the apology which I made to the Catholic Church and the people of Scotland some two years ago now on March 3, 2013.

“I then said that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me. For that I am deeply sorry.”

His successor Archbishop Leo Cushley said: “I acknowledge and welcome Cardinal O’Brien’s apology to those affected by his behaviour and also to the people of Scotland, especially the Catholic community.”