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| Cardinal Keith O'Brien faces Vatican sexual conduct inquiry | Cardinal Keith O'Brien faces Vatican sexual conduct inquiry |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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 cardinal's 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. | BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott says the cardinal's 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. |
| "The inquiry into his conduct will be an internal Church investigation and the results might not be made public," our correspondent said. | "The inquiry into his conduct will be an internal Church investigation and the results might not be made public," our correspondent said. |
| "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. | 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 means Britain will have no representative at the impending conclave, when cardinals gather to elect a new Pope. | Cardinal O'Brien's resignation means Britain will have no representative at the impending conclave, when cardinals gather to elect a new Pope. |
| The BBC's Allan Little in Rome said before the cardinal's confession of sexual misconduct, the clerics were unwilling to believe the allegations, preferring to blame a single rogue priest or a liberal conspiracy against the Church. | |
| "Yet again, it seems the Church was willing to do nothing as long as it wasn't public knowledge," our correspondent said. | "Yet again, it seems the Church was willing to do nothing as long as it wasn't public knowledge," our correspondent said. |
| 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. | 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." |
| 'Saints and sinners' | 'Saints and sinners' |
| Catherine Deveney, the journalist who first broke the story in the Observer, said she had spoken to the four victims and they were relieved they had been vindicated. | Catherine Deveney, the journalist who first broke the story in the Observer, said she had spoken to the four victims and they were relieved they had been vindicated. |
| "These are not men who are trying to bring down the Church, they have given their lives to the Church. Forgiveness and redemption are their kind of language," she said. | "These are not men who are trying to bring down the Church, they have given their lives to the Church. Forgiveness and redemption are their kind of language," she said. |
| She said she had put four very specific allegations to Cardinal O'Brien when the story first broke and followed them up with the question "Have you broken the vow of celibacy?". | She said she had put four very specific allegations to Cardinal O'Brien when the story first broke and followed them up with the question "Have you broken the vow of celibacy?". |
| "One of the big difficulties for the Church is the instinct to cover up and protect itself," she said. "This says to individuals who have been wronged - you do not matter as much as the public face of our institution." | "One of the big difficulties for the Church is the instinct to cover up and protect itself," she said. "This says to individuals who have been wronged - you do not matter as much as the public face of our institution." |
| Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, a former Archbishop of Westminster, told the BBC the Church had not lost its moral authority. | Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, a former Archbishop of Westminster, told the BBC the Church had not lost its moral authority. |
| "The Church is composed of saints and sinners," he said. "Sometimes the institution bears responsibility, sometimes it is just the weakness of individuals. | "The Church is composed of saints and sinners," he said. "Sometimes the institution bears responsibility, sometimes it is just the weakness of individuals. |
| "The vast majority of priests and bishops are good and faithful men." | "The vast majority of priests and bishops are good and faithful men." |
| Cardinal O'Brien, who was born in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, had been the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 1985 and was 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 and was due to retire later this month when he turned 75. |
| 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. |