A priest who alleged a gay mafia was behind bullying in the Scottish church has been found guilty of defamation. A Church tribunal found that Fr Matthew Despard of St John Ogilvie in Lanarkshire had injured the reputation of the Church as well as clergy and lay people. Already under suspension, he will be removed Read more
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien from the rights and privileges of being a cardinal. Cardinal O’Brien had previously admitted sexual misconduct towards several men. He will no longer be invited to attend consistories and other gatherings of cardinals, including an eventual conclave for the election of a new pope. Read more
The Archbishop Emeritus of Glasgow, Mario Conti, said Cardinal Keith O’Brien blocked an independent investigation into clerical sex abuse files held by Scottish dioceses. Cardinal O’Brien, who resigned as archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in February after unidentified priests alleged he acted inappropriately toward them, objected to a church review of abuse allegations commissioned Read more
Pope Francis has appointed a former papal diplomat to head the scandal-struck St Andrews and Edinburgh archdiocese, replacing Cardinal Keith O’Brien who resigned in February amid revelations of sexual misconduct. The archbishop-elect, Monsignor Leo Cushley, is a Scot who was a priest in the diocese of Motherwell before being called to Rome to be trained Read more
The Vatican plans an apostolic visitation of the Church in Scotland, to probe charges of widespread corruption, according to The Scotsman newspaper. Though no word has come from the Vatican, the newspaper said a priest who accused the resigned Cardinal Keith O’Brien of homosexual conduct was told there would be an investigation in a meeting Read more
Pope Francis has agreed that Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct, should leave Scotland “for several months” for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance. This news, which had been rumoured for some weeks, was confirmed by the Vatican press office in a brief statement issued in both English and Read more
Cardinal Keith O’Brien had a long-term physical relationship with one of the priests whose complaints against him led to his removal as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, according to Church sources cited by the Herald Scotland. Cardinal O’Brien went into retirement after admitting “there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below Read more
I’m not sure Cardinal Keith O’Brien is especially interested in the finer points of public relations. If I enjoyed the backing of over a billion practicing Catholics I probably wouldn’t be that bothered either. Which is just as well, because his article in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph on gay marriage, together with his rant on this morning’s Today programme, Read more