UNITED KINGDOM
Bloomberg
By Rodney Jefferson – Feb 25, 2013
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric, stepped down amid allegations he behaved inappropriately toward priests in the 1980s.
O’Brien, 74, has denied any wrongdoing. The archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh had handed in his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on Nov. 13 and said in a statement the pontiff had decided to accept it with effect today.
“Approaching the age of 75 and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation some months ago,” O’Brien said in the statement on the Scottish Catholic media office’s website. “The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today and that he will appoint an apostolic administrator to govern the archdiocese in my place.”
The cardinal won’t take part in the conclave that votes on the next pope following Benedict’s decision to step down at the end of this month, the office said.
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