SCOTLAND
Telegraph
By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor
The Vatican has appointed a bishop with a reputation for investigating sexual abuse to conduct an inquiry into the scandal surrounding the resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien, it has been announced.
Bishop Charles Scicluna has been appointed by the Congregation for Bishops as its special envoy to listen and report on allegations against the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh following a request from Pope Francis.
Cardinal O’Brien resigned in disgrace in February last year after three priests and a former priest made allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against him.
Archbishop Leo Cushley said that the appointment of Bishop Scicluna is “indicative of the seriousness with which this matter is being taken”.
The bishop has been credited with reforming the Vatican’s attitude to sexual abuse over the past decade, even by victims, overhauling its internal norms to make it easier to defrock abusers.
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