SCOTLAND
Scotsman
by ALISTAIR MUNRO
THE Catholic Church sought to draw a line under the scandal surrounding the disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien when it was reported that he will face no further disciplinary action from the Vatican.
O’Brien, who was forced to stand down after three priests and a former priest accused him of improper sexual conduct, has spent the past few months in exile for “the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penitence”. He is currently understood to be living at a monastery in England.
On Saturday the new Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Leo Cushley, indicated the Vatican does not plan to pursue further action against his predecessor, who left his post after the revelations were published in February.
Cushley told a newspaper his “impression” was Rome had finished with the matter.
“They will monitor the situation. They will look into it again after a certain period to see that things are going in the way they ought to be going. They may consider other evidence if it comes to light, but it would be up to them as to what they should do,” he said.
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