 |
| Cardinal Keith O'Brien |
British
newspaper The Observer reported Sunday that three priests and one former priest
have leveled allegations against O'Brien that date back 30 years. The Observer
did not recount details of the claims or identify any of O'Brien's accusers,
but said one of the priests alleged "that the cardinal developed an
inappropriate relationship with him."
O'Brien did
not attend Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, but the
Scottish Catholic Media Office told CNN that the cardinal "contests these
claims and is taking legal advice."
His accusers took their complaints to the Vatican
representative in Britain and demanded O'Brien's resignation, The Observer
reported. At the Vatican, Father Federico Lombardi, a spokesman for the church,
told reporters that Pope
Benedict XVI has been informed of the allegations.
The
Irish-born O'Brien is scheduled to retire on St. Patrick's Day, his 75th
birthday. But in a message to the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh last
Sunday, he said he expected to take part as the College of Cardinals gathers in
Rome to pick
a successor to Benedict, who has led the worldwide church since 2005.
The
accusations against O'Brien follow a buzz in Italian media about claims that
gay clergy may have made themselves vulnerable to blackmail by male
prostitutes, setting off speculation that a brewing scandal may have triggered
Benedict's resignation. The Vatican
vehemently denied the allegations Saturday, with Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone criticizing a rash of "often unverified, unverifiable or
completely false news stories" as the cardinals prepare for their
conclave.
Benedict
announced his resignation on February 11, saying that at 85, he was too weak to
continue his duties. He leaves the papacy on Thursday, becoming the first pope
to step down since 1415.
Source: CNN
Source: CNN
No comments:
Post a Comment