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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 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. | 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. | Cardinal O'Brien said he would pray in his retirement for those he had offended. |
| He will not be 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. | Cardinal O'Brien was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric at the time. |
| 'Distressed many' | '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. | 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 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 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". | "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. | 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. | "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. | "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 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." | "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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |