UNITED KINGDOM
MSN
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the UK’s most senior Catholic cleric, has resigned with immediate effect. He is facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour from three priests and a former priest, as reported in the Observer newspaper.
He was the only British Roman Catholic cleric able to vote in the upcoming conclave electing Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.
The 74-year-old, who is Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, was created and proclaimed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in October 2003.
The cleric was born in Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
He obtained a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Edinburgh and a diploma in education.
On 3 April 1965 he was ordained a priest.
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