SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Tuesday 26 February 2013
THE resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh following allegations that he behaved inappropriately towards three priests and one former priest puts the issue of sexual abuse at the heart of the Catholic Church in the week when cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect the new Pope.
Cardinal O’Brien denies the claims, which date back to 1980. Despite his decision not to attend the conclave because he wants to avoid a focus on him when attention should be concentrated on Pope Benedict XVI and his successor, how the church handles clerical abuse must be a key consideration.
Much will be read into the timing of these claims. In particular, since they date back more than 30 years, some will question why they are surfacing now. One of those alleging unwanted contact and inappropriate behaviour has said that he resigned from the priesthood when Keith O’Brien was appointed a bishop because he would always have power over him. That is an indication of how much the culture within the church has changed from one of absolute hierarchical power over the last 30 years. That it is now possible for priests to use the Vatican’s diplomatic service to raise a complaint about abuse by a superior directly with Rome is a revolution that owes much to belated admission of child sex abuse on the part of the church.
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