This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-31985178
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pope makes Cardinal O'Brien ruling | Pope makes Cardinal O'Brien ruling |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pope Francis has accepted a decision by Keith O'Brien to formally give up his rights and duties as a cardinal. | |
| The disgraced clergyman will retain the title of cardinal but will be reduced to a strictly private life. | The disgraced clergyman will retain the title of cardinal but will be reduced to a strictly private life. |
| He will have no further participation in public, religious or civil events. He said he was deeply sorry for past behaviour. | |
| Cardinal O'Brien said he would pray in his retirement for those he had offended. | |
| He will not allowed to take part in the election of any future Pope or be involved in the governance of the universal church. | |
| He stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after accusations of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards priests in the 1980s. | He stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after accusations of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards priests in the 1980s. |
| Cardinal O'Brien was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric at the time. | |
| 'Distressed many' | |
| In a statement, he said: "I wish to repeat the apology which I made to the Catholic Church and the people of Scotland some two years ago now on 3rd March 2013. | |
| "I then said that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me. For that I am deeply sorry. | |
| "I thank Pope Francis for his fatherly care of me and of those I have offended in any way. | |
| "I will continue to play no part in the public life of the Church in Scotland; and will dedicate the rest of my life in retirement, praying especially for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, for Scotland, and for those I have offended in any way". | |
| Archbishop Leo Cushley, his successor in the St Andrews and Edinburgh archdiocese, said: "Cardinal O'Brien's behaviour distressed many, demoralised faithful Catholics and made the church less credible to those who are not Catholic. | |
| "I therefore acknowledge and welcome his apology to those affected by his behaviour and also to the people of Scotland, especially the Catholic community. | |
| "For my own part, I would like to express sorrow and regret to those most distressed by the actions of my predecessor. | |
| "I also pay tribute to those who had the courage to come forward to speak to Archbishop Scicluna. | |
| "I hope now that all of us affected by this sad and regrettable episode will embrace a spirit of forgiveness, the only spirit that can heal any bitterness and hurt that still remains." | |
| Private discussion | |
| The announcement follows the decision by Pope Francis to send a personal envoy, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, on a fact-finding mission to Scotland last year. | |
| Based upon that investigation - the content of which is fully know only to Pope Francis and Archbishop Scicluna - Pope Francis has reached his canonical conclusion. | |
| Cardinal O'Brien's decision followed a private discussion with Pope Francis. | |
| The Catholic church said this was preceded by a period of prayer and penance in order to allow the cardinal to reflect upon his misconduct. |