St Andrews may rescind O’Brien degree

By Mark Macaskill
Times
September 06, 2015

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1603405.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2015_09_05

THE former head of the Catholic church in Scotland who stepped down in disgrace after admitting sexual misconduct could be stripped of an honorary degree from Scotland’s oldest university.

On Thursday, St Andrews University’s senate business committee, chaired by the principal, Dr Louise Richardson, will consider whether to rescind Keith O’Brien’s doctorate in divinity that was bestowed upon him in 2004, a year after he became a cardinal.

O’Brien was forced to step down two years ago after admitting his sexual conduct had “fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal”.

He was accused of sexual misconduct with three priests and a former priest. The motion will be considered after lobbying by Manfredi La Manna, a lecturer in economics at St Andrews.