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Grant Gallicho March 20, 2015

Today the Holy See announced that Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Scotland has resigned the “rights and privileges” of being a cardinal. The news follows the conclusion of a Vatican investigation of allegations that O’Brien sexually harrassed adult men, including a seminarian, and carried on a long-term sexual relationship with a priest. O’Brien, once an outspoken critic of homosexuality, resigned as archbishop of Edinburgh in 2013, admitting that “many times” his sexual conduct had “fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop, and cardinal.” And he recused himself from the conclave that elected Pope Francis. Until now, O’Brien had been living in a seaside home apparantly enjoying the rights and privileges of a cardinal. Not anymore. He won’t be able to participate in any more conclaves, or act as an adviser to the pope. Still, O’Brien gets to keep…