Cardinal O'Brien to Leave Scotland for 'Spiritual Renewal and Penance'
THE GUARDIAN: Disgraced former archbishop to leave the country for several months for undisclosed location, announces Vatican

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the disgraced former archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, will leave Scotland for a period of "spiritual renewal, prayer and penance" after he admitted inappropriate sexual conduct with priests, the Vatican has said.

In a statement, the Vatican said the 75-year-old cardinal would be leaving the country for several months, without specifying where he would go.

"His eminence cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, archbishop emeritus of St Andrews and Edinburgh, for the same reasons he decided not to participate in the last conclave, and in agreement with the Holy Father, will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance," it said. » | Lizzy Davies in Rome | Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Cardinal Keith O'Brien Being Sued By Alleged Abuse Victim
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A former trainee priest is starting legal action against Cardinal Keith O’Brien over allegations he was abused by the disgraced cleric as a teenager.


He is claiming the cardinal groped and kissed him during a visit to an unnamed seminary in the 1980s when he was 19. He made clear his ordeal was not an isolated incident.

The former seminarian is the first of the cardinal’s alleged victims to speak publicly about his experience, having known him since childhood, and said he is prepared to face the cleric in a courtroom to encourage others to come forward.

The man, who is now in his 50s and has asked to remain anonymous, told Glasgow's Herald newspaper he had instigated legal proceedings against both the cardinal and the Catholic Church.

He left the seminary several months after the alleged incident and decided only to break his silence after the recent revelations about the former archbishop’s sexual behaviour indicated there were other victims. » | Simon Johnson | Friday, March 15, 2013

Cardinal Keith O'Brien Admits and Apologises for Sexual Misconduct

THE GUARDIAN: UK Catholic leader who was forced to resign early by the pope admits in statement that his sexual conduct 'fell below standards'

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, forced to resign by the pope last week, has admitted to sexual misconduct and issued a sweeping apology to individuals he has "offended" as well as to the Catholic church and Scottish people.

In a short statement issued soon after 5pm on Sunday, O'Brien admitted "there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal".

The former archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh made no detailed admissions but apologised and asked for the forgiveness of all those he had offended, and for the forgiveness of the entire Catholic church. » | Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent | Sunday, March 03, 2013

Britain’s Senior Catholic Cleric Resigns
Cardinal Keith O'Brien steps down but rejects claims by three priests and a former cleric of inappropriate behaviour.

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Cardinal Keith O’Brien Resigns as Archbishop

SCOTSMAN: Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in Britain stepped down today amid allegations of his “inappropriate behaviour” with three priests and one former priest.

The decision to bring forward the 74-year-old cardinal’s resignation by three weeks was made personally by the pope.

In a statement this morning he said: “The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today.”

“I thank Pope Benedict XVI for his kindness and courtesy to me and on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Scotland, I wish him a long and happy retirement. I also ask God’s blessing on my brother Cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor.”

“I will not join them for this conclave in person. I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me - but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor. However, I will pray with them and for them that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they will make the correct choice for the future good of the Church.” He added: “I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest.” » | Monday, February 25, 2013

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cardinal Keith O'Brien resignation: statement issued by Scottish Catholic Media Office: The Pope has accepted Cardinal Keith O’Brien's resignation as he fights allegations of “inappropriate” behaviour with priests. Read the statement issued by the Scottish Catholic Media Office here. » | Telegraph reporters | Monday, February 25, 2013

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Breaking News! Cardinal Keith O'Brien Resigns over Allegations of 'Inappropriate' Behaviour
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cardinal Keith O’Brien has resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh amid allegations of “inappropriate” behaviour with priests.

The 74-year-old, who was due to retire, has denied he allegations but is stepping aside amid the controversy. » | John Bingham and Simon Johnson | Monday, February 25, 2013

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UK's Top Cardinal Accused of 'Inappropriate Acts' by Priests

THE OBSERVER: Three priests and former priest report Cardinal Keith O'Brien to Vatican over claims stretching back 33 years

Three priests and a former priest in Scotland have reported the most senior Catholic clergyman in Britain, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behaviour stretching back 30 years.

The four, from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, have complained to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, and demanded O'Brien's immediate resignation. A spokesman for the cardinal said that the claims were contested.

O'Brien, who is due to retire next month, has been an outspoken opponent of gay rights, condemning homosexuality as immoral, opposing gay adoption, and most recently arguing that same-sex marriages would be "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved". Last year he was named "bigot of the year" by the gay rights charity Stonewall.

One of the complainants, it is understood, alleges that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him, resulting in a need for long-term psychological counselling.

The four submitted statements containing their claims to the nuncio's office the week before Pope Benedict's resignation on 11 February. They fear that, if O'Brien travels to the forthcoming papal conclave to elect a new pope, the church will not fully address their complaints. » | Catherine Deveney | Saturday, February 22, 2013

Catholic Leaders Furious at Stonewall's 'Bigot' Award for Cardinal Keith O'Brien

THE GUARDIAN: Gay rights group names Scottish cardinal bigot of the year after he called gay marriage a 'grotesque subversion'

Catholic leaders have reacted furiously after members of the gay rights group Stonewall named Cardinal Keith O'Brien "bigot of the year" for his vigorous attacks on gay marriage.

Stonewall said its 10,000 members had voted "decisively" to give the title to O'Brien, head of the Scottish Catholic church, after he described gay marriage as a "grotesque subversion" of the universal human right which defines marriage as solely heterosexual.

The church, which also alleges that people in gay marriages suffer greater risks of mental illness and premature death, demanded that the Scottish government and two sponsors – the banks Barclays and Coutts – withdraw their sponsorship of the group.

Barclays and Coutts have already warned they will stop financing Stonewall, the UK's largest gay rights group, if the bigot award is proposed again next year. The Scottish parliament is expected to vote to legalise gay marriages next year, despite intense opposition from religious groups. » | Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent | Friday, November 02, 2012

Cardinal Keith O'Brien in Gay Wedding Vote Call
BBC: Britain's most senior Roman Catholic has urged the Scottish government to hold a referendum on proposals to legalise same-sex marriage.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien said a vote should be held because of intense public interest in the issue.

Gay rights campaigners said a referendum would be a waste of money.

Scots ministers, who favour same-sex marriage, are to announce legislation this week after their consultation resulted in 80,000 responses.

Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold gay weddings in churches.

The issue has ignited a debate between gay rights supporters and the Catholic Church, which is strongly opposed to same-sex marriage.

Cardinal O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said the marriage consultation received three times more responses than the government's consultation on the independence referendum, which saw more than 26,000 people share their views.

"Clearly, if it is sensible to hold a referendum on independence, it is crucial that we have one on marriage," he said, adding: "It is the only way the country can move forward on this issue.

"Let all those who have a view on this subject place their trust in the Scottish people and let Scotland decide." » | Monday, July 16, 2012