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| Cardinal Keith O'Brien faces Vatican sexual conduct inquiry | Cardinal Keith O'Brien faces Vatican sexual conduct inquiry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Cardinal Keith O'Brien is expected to face a Vatican inquiry after admitting his sexual conduct had at times "fallen beneath the standards expected of me". | Cardinal Keith O'Brien is expected to face a Vatican inquiry after admitting his sexual conduct had at times "fallen beneath the standards expected of me". |
| The inquiry into the former head of the Catholic Church in Scotland is not likely to begin until after a new Pope is chosen - a process starting later. | The inquiry into the former head of the Catholic Church in Scotland is not likely to begin until after a new Pope is chosen - a process starting later. |
| On Sunday, the cardinal apologised to the Church and the people of Scotland. | On Sunday, the cardinal apologised to the Church and the people of Scotland. |
| He resigned after three priests and a former priest alleged improper behaviour dating back to the 1980s. | |
| Cardinal O'Brien was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric until he stood down as the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh last month. | Cardinal O'Brien was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric until he stood down as the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh last month. |
| BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott says the inquiry into his conduct will be an internal Church investigation and the results might not be made public. | |
| It will be carried out by the Vatican under a new Pope, not by the Church in Scotland, and any punishment will depend on the circumstances of his improper sexual conduct. | It will be carried out by the Vatican under a new Pope, not by the Church in Scotland, and any punishment will depend on the circumstances of his improper sexual conduct. |
| 'Ask forgiveness' | 'Ask forgiveness' |
| Some will find it a relief that the cardinal's week-long silence has ended, and the issue of "sexual conduct" now at least has a name. | Some will find it a relief that the cardinal's week-long silence has ended, and the issue of "sexual conduct" now at least has a name. |
| But, as Cardinal O'Brien's statement is so conspicuously devoid of any detail, it seems to raise almost as many questions as it answers - particularly about the nature and timing of the occasions of that wrongdoing. | But, as Cardinal O'Brien's statement is so conspicuously devoid of any detail, it seems to raise almost as many questions as it answers - particularly about the nature and timing of the occasions of that wrongdoing. |
| His admission that his "conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal" could be taken to confirm that his improper behaviour continued beyond the time of the initial allegations in the 1980s into the recent past. | His admission that his "conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal" could be taken to confirm that his improper behaviour continued beyond the time of the initial allegations in the 1980s into the recent past. |
| Whatever else it tells us, the cardinal's statement does sit uneasily with his years of outspoken denunciation of homosexual relationships. | Whatever else it tells us, the cardinal's statement does sit uneasily with his years of outspoken denunciation of homosexual relationships. |
| Our correspondent adds that the statement issued by Cardinal O'Brien on Sunday lacked specific detail, but its acknowledgement of sexual misconduct exposes him to charges of hypocrisy from critics with respect to his outspoken attacks on homosexual behaviour in the past. | |
| Cardinal O'Brien's resignation took place after the former priest and three current priests from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh complained to the Pope's representative to Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, in early February about what they alleged had been inappropriate behaviour towards them in the 1980s. | Cardinal O'Brien's resignation took place after the former priest and three current priests from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh complained to the Pope's representative to Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, in early February about what they alleged had been inappropriate behaviour towards them in the 1980s. |
| In his statement, issued through the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal O'Brien said: "In recent days, certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them. | |
| "However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal. | "However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal. |
| "To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise. | "To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise. |
| "I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland." | "I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland." |
| Outspoken | Outspoken |
| Sources in the Scottish Catholic Church told the BBC that Cardinal O'Brien had at first thought he might eventually be able to return to a role in Church life after retirement. | Sources in the Scottish Catholic Church told the BBC that Cardinal O'Brien had at first thought he might eventually be able to return to a role in Church life after retirement. |
| The cardinal, who had initially said he was taking legal advice when the allegations against him were made public, had been due to retire later this month when he turned 75. | The cardinal, who had initially said he was taking legal advice when the allegations against him were made public, had been due to retire later this month when he turned 75. |
| Cardinal O'Brien, who was born in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, had been the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 1985. | Cardinal O'Brien, who was born in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, had been the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 1985. |
| He has been an outspoken opponent of plans to legalise same-sex marriage in Scotland and was named "bigot of the year" by gay rights charity Stonewall last year. | He has been an outspoken opponent of plans to legalise same-sex marriage in Scotland and was named "bigot of the year" by gay rights charity Stonewall last year. |
| In an interview with BBC Scotland shortly before the allegations against him were made public, the cardinal said he believed priests should be able to marry and have children if they wished. | In an interview with BBC Scotland shortly before the allegations against him were made public, the cardinal said he believed priests should be able to marry and have children if they wished. |
| He said it was clear many priests struggled to cope with celibacy. | He said it was clear many priests struggled to cope with celibacy. |