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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Pope confirms Cardinal O'Brien will play no further public church role | Pope confirms Cardinal O'Brien will play no further public church role |
| (2 days 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 Catholic clergyman will retain the title of cardinal but will be reduced to a strictly private life. | The disgraced Catholic 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, and will continue to live outside of Scotland. | 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, and will continue to live outside of Scotland. |
| What exactly can Keith O'Brien do and not do? | What exactly can Keith O'Brien do and not do? |
| Cardinal O'Brien was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric before resigning as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after three priests and a former priest made allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against him. | Cardinal O'Brien was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric before resigning as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after three priests and a former priest made allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against him. |
| The incidents were alleged to have happened in the 1980s. | The incidents were alleged to have happened in the 1980s. |
| Cardinal O'Brien issued an apology at the time, saying "there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me". | Cardinal O'Brien issued an apology at the time, saying "there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me". |
| In a statement released following the Pope's decision, Cardinal O'Brien 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 released following the Pope's decision, Cardinal O'Brien 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 known 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. |
| According to Canon Law, the Pope is the only person who can investigate or discipline a member of the College of Cardinals. | According to Canon Law, the Pope is the only person who can investigate or discipline a member of the College of Cardinals. |
| Cardinal O'Brien is still a priest and, thus, says mass privately in his own home and has done so since stepping down as Archbishop in 2013. | Cardinal O'Brien is still a priest and, thus, says mass privately in his own home and has done so since stepping down as Archbishop in 2013. |
| Following Friday's decision by Pope Francis, Cardinal O'Brien will have no public ministry and so will not say public mass, hear public confessions nor publicly administer other sacraments. | Following Friday's decision by Pope Francis, Cardinal O'Brien will have no public ministry and so will not say public mass, hear public confessions nor publicly administer other sacraments. |
| That means he will not officiate at weddings, funerals or baptisms. | That means he will not officiate at weddings, funerals or baptisms. |