VATICAN CITY
The Daily Beast
by Barbie Latza Nadeau
Feb 25, 2013
Keith O’Brien’s resignation as archbishop of Scotland—amid claims that he made advances towards male priests—could be the first in a wave of scandals to plague the coming conclave.
When Cardinal Keith O’Brien handed in his resignation as archbishop of Scotland to Pope Benedict XVI ahead of his 75th birthday on March 17 last year, he likely had no idea how relevant it would become in the history of the Catholic Church. The resignation was made nunc pro tunc or “now for later”–to be dealt with when the pope had time for such matters. But Pope Benedict, who is stepping down from his papacy on February 28, only found time to approve O’Brien’s resignation last Friday. The resignation, and the presumed assumption that O’Brien will not participate in the conclave to elect the next pope, is just the latest in an avalanche of sleazy scandals to rock the Vatican since the pope tendered his resignation on February 11. And, given the speed at which the Vatican’s skeletons are surfacing, O’Brien’s resignation has left many wondering how many cardinals will be left by the time the conclave begins.
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