UNITED KINGDOM
Washington Post
Britain’s top Catholic cleric resigns after accusations of inappropriate behavior
By Anthony Faiola
LONDON — Pope Benedict XVI on Monday accepted the immediate resignation of Britain’s highest-ranking Roman Catholic cleric, effectively forcing Cardinal Keith O’Brien to step down two days after allegations surfaced publicly that he had engaged in inappropriate behavior with priests.
The latest scandal to engulf the church involves one of its most strident conservatives and influential clerics, and comes just weeks before the conclave to select a successor to Benedict, who unexpectedly announced his retirement on Feb. 11.
The nature of the allegations could cast a shadow over the church’s moral authority in Europe – the continent where the church is losing the most ground globally. O’Brien, the head of the church in Scotland, had emerged as a leading voice in Britain against homosexuality. He has described gay marriage as “grotesque” and same-sex couples as “immoral.”
O’Brien has denied the allegations against him — first made public Saturday on the Web site of Britain’s Observer newspaper — and retained legal counsel. But on Monday, he issued a statement saying he was stepping down immediately because of a decision taken by the pope.
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