The most senior cleric in Britain's Catholic Church has resigned. Cardinal Keith O'Brien has stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and is facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour dating back to the 1980s, which he strongly denies.
The Vatican has confirmed his resignation's been accepted and he will not now travel to Rome to help elect the successor to Pope Benedict XVI. One of the reasons he gives for his early resignation is that he doesn't want media attention to be on him in Rome while a replacement for the Pope is being chosen.
In a statement Cardinal O'Brien said:
"Approaching the age of seventy-five and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago.
"I was happy to know that he accepted my resignation 'nunc pro tunc' – (now – but to take effect later) on 13 November 2012.
"The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today, 25 February 2013, and that he will appoint an Apostolic Administrator to govern the Archdiocese in my place until my successor as Archbishop is appointed.
"In the meantime I will give every assistance to the Apostolic Administrator and to our new Archbishop, once he is appointed, as I prepare to move into retirement.
"I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest.
"Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended.
"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.
"May God who has blessed me so often in my ministry continue to bless and help me in the years which remain for me on earth and may he shower his blessings on all the peoples of Scotland especially those I was privileged to serve in a special way in the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh."
MSP Margo MacDonald is a friend of the cardinal.
She said:
"I'm really sorry for Keith, I'm sorry because this would have ended his career on a very dignified and terrific note in many respects because he would have been recognised for the experienced churchman he is."
The resignation of the Cardinal means there'll be no UK involvement in the election of the next Pope. Anne Lawrence from Ministers and Clergy Survivors of Sexual Abuse told Premier's Des Busteed on the News Hour that it seems the Cardinal is trying to protect the integrity of the conclave.
On Saturday, the Observer newspaper reported that three priests and one former priest complained to the Pope's representative to Britain when Pope Benedict announced his resignation, of what they claimed was the Cardinal's inappropriate behaviour towards them in the 1980s. The former priest claims the cardinal made an inappropriate approach to him in 1980, after night prayers, when he was a seminarian at St Andrew's College in Drygrange. The complainant said he resigned as a priest when Cardinal O'Brien was first made a bishop. A second statement from another complainant said he was living in a parish when he was visited by the Cardinal and inappropriate contact took place between them. A third complainant alleges dealing with what he describes as "unwanted behaviour" by the Cardinal after some late-night drinking. And the fourth complainant claims the Cardinal used night prayers as an excuse for inappropriate contact. Cardinal O'Brien strongly denies the allegations.
Cardinal O'Brien was ordained a priest on in April 1965, was ordained Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh in 1985, and made a cardinal by John Paul II in October 2003. He was outspoken on a number of topics including abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality.
Director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children John Smeaton said:
"I wish to thank His Eminence Cardinal Keith O'Brien on the occasion of his retirement, for the many times in which he spoke out forcefully in defence of unborn children and of the family founded on marriage between one man and one woman.
"I am particularly grateful for the personal support which he gave to SPUC and to me in my role as SPUC director.
"He can be assured of my prayers and those of SPUC supporters for him and for his successor."
Last week Cardinal O'Brien called for priests to be able to choose to marry saying he knew of many priests who had struggled with the vow of celibacy.