UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian
Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Monday 25 February 2013
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the UK’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, has resigned with immediate effect after being accused of “inappropriate acts” towards fellow priests.
The Scottish Catholic church announced that Pope Benedict had accepted the cardinal’s resignation as archibishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, which 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 head of the Scottish Catholic church until mid-March, when he was due to retire at age 75.
But in a detailed statement, O’Brien said he resigned on Monday, and apologised to any people he had let down. He 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.”
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