SCOTLAND
Daily Mail
Britain’s top Catholic Cardinal O’Brien admits his ‘sexual conduct fell well below the standards expected of a priest and archbishop’ as he sends himself into retreat
By Sam Webb and Alex Gore
Britain’s most senior Catholic admitted today his ‘sexual conduct’ fell well below the ‘standards expected of a priest’.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien made the statement in response to allegations of ‘inappropriate’ behaviour levelled against him by three priests and a former priest.
He apologised, asked for forgiveness and said he will play no further part in the Catholic Church.
The cleric resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh a day after the allegations stretching back 30 years were published last Sunday.
He said today: ‘In recent days certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them.
‘However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.
retreat.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.