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| Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigns amid claims of inappropriate behaviour | Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigns amid claims of inappropriate behaviour |
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| Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the UK's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, has resigned with immediate effect after being accused of "inappropriate acts" towards fellow priests. | Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the UK's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, has resigned with immediate effect after being accused of "inappropriate acts" towards fellow priests. |
| The Scottish Catholic church announced that Pope Benedict had accepted the cardinal's resignation as archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, which came after the Observer disclosed a series of allegations by three priests and one former priest. | |
| O'Brien has denied the allegations and had been expected to continue in his post as head of the Scottish Catholic church until mid-March, when he was due to retire at age 75. | O'Brien has denied the allegations and had been expected to continue in his post as head of the Scottish Catholic church until mid-March, when he was due to retire at age 75. |
| But in a detailed statement, O'Brien said he resigned on Monday, and apologised to any people he had let down. He said he did not want the controversy to overshadow the election of the new pope. | But in a detailed statement, O'Brien said he resigned on Monday, and apologised to any people he had let down. He said he did not want the controversy to overshadow the election of the new pope. |
| "I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest," he said. "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." | |
| His unexpectedly early resignation means the cardinal will not now take part in the election for a successor to Pope Benedict. This will leave Britain unrepresented in the process as he was the only cardinal in the British Catholic churches.. | His unexpectedly early resignation means the cardinal will not now take part in the election for a successor to Pope Benedict. This will leave Britain unrepresented in the process as he was the only cardinal in the British Catholic churches.. |
| O'Brien, who missed celebrating mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, had been due to fly out to the Vatican on Tuesday for the long conclave to choose the next pope. | O'Brien, who missed celebrating mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, had been due to fly out to the Vatican on Tuesday for the long conclave to choose the next pope. |
| His resignation, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour and acts towards the four men, is a heavy blow to the church and Benedict, whose papacy has been beset by repeated controversies over misconduct by clergy in Europe and the US and allegations of corruption and incompetence at the Vatican. | |
| However, with the Vatican and Benedict's successor facing a series of serious challenges to its reputation, O'Brien's speedy retirement will allow the church to move quickly to settle this controversy. | However, with the Vatican and Benedict's successor facing a series of serious challenges to its reputation, O'Brien's speedy retirement will allow the church to move quickly to settle this controversy. |
| The Observer reported that the four men came forward last week to demand his resignation largely because the complainants did not want O'Brien taking part in the papal election. | The Observer reported that the four men came forward last week to demand his resignation largely because the complainants did not want O'Brien taking part in the papal election. |
| O'Brien said he had already agreed with Benedict that he would step down on 17 March as he was "approaching the age of seventy-five and at times in indifferent health". The pope had now agreed he could resign immediately, he said, forcing the church to find an "apostolic administrator" to run the diocese until a new archbishop could be appointed. | O'Brien said he had already agreed with Benedict that he would step down on 17 March as he was "approaching the age of seventy-five and at times in indifferent health". The pope had now agreed he could resign immediately, he said, forcing the church to find an "apostolic administrator" to run the diocese until a new archbishop could be appointed. |
| Confirming he would not now go to the Vatican conclave, O'Brien said: "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. | Confirming he would not now go to the Vatican conclave, O'Brien said: "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." | |
| O'Brien has been an outspoken critic of gay rights, denouncing plans for the legalisation of same-sex marriage as "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved". He was named bigot of the year in 2012 by the gay rights group Stonewall because of his central role in opposing gay marriage laws in Scotland. | O'Brien has been an outspoken critic of gay rights, denouncing plans for the legalisation of same-sex marriage as "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved". He was named bigot of the year in 2012 by the gay rights group Stonewall because of his central role in opposing gay marriage laws in Scotland. |
| Colin Macfarlane, the director of Stonewall Scotland, called for a full inquiry into the claims against the former cardinal. "We trust that there will now be a full investigation into the serious allegations made against ex-cardinal O'Brien," Macfarlane said. "We hope that his successor will show a little more Christian charity towards openly gay people than the former cardinal did himself." | |