Cardinal Keith O’Brien said in a statement on Saturday that he apologizes for any offenses and has asked for forgiveness after three priests and one former priest accused him of inappropriate behavior last week.
"In recent days,” the statement reads, “certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them.
"However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.
"To those I have offended I apologize and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic church and people of Scotland, I also apologize. I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic church in Scotland."
The statement was issued on Saturday night by the Catholic Church of Scotland.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien stepped down from his role as Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland last week, just a day after three priests and one former priest formally lodged allegations against him which accused him of inappropriate conduct.
Time to end celibacy for priests as Catholic Church crisis continues
Prior to resigning, Cardinal O’Brien, who was born in Antrim, was the highest Catholic clergyman in Britain. With his resignation, there will be no British representative at the forthcoming papal conclave that will be held to elect a replacement for the former Pope Benedict XVI after his abdication.
The same day the Catholic Church of Scotland issued Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s statement, the former priest who accused Cardinal O’Brien spoke to the Observer newspaper in Britain. The former priest has opted to remain anonymous.
The former priest said that he is “disappointed” with the “lack of integrity” shown by the Catholic church during this situation.
“There have been two sensations for me this week,” the former priest said. “One is feeling the hot breath of the media on the back of my neck and the other is sensing the cold disapproval of the church hierarchy for daring to break ranks. I feel like if they could crush me, they would.”
He continued, “The vacuum the church has created has allowed whimsy and speculation to distort the truth.
“And the only support I have been offered is a cursory email with a couple of telephone numbers of counsellors hundreds of miles away from me. Anyway, I don’t need counselling about Keith O’Brien’s unwanted behaviour to me as a young man. But I may need counselling about the trauma of speaking truth to power.
“I have felt very alone and there is a tendency to become reclusive when people are trying to hunt you down.”
The former priest also spoke out regarding that some have told him to step forward and reveal his identity: “To those who want to know my name I would say, what does that change? And what do you think I have done wrong?
“For me, this is about integrity. I thought it was best to let the men and women who put their hard-earned cash in the plate every Sunday know what has been happening. If you pay into something you have a right, but also a duty, to know what you are paying for,” he told the newspaper.
“I am as sinful as the next man – as my partner and pals frequently remind me. But this isn’t about trying to own the moral high ground. I feel compassion for O’Brien, more compassion than the church is showing me, but the truth has to be available – even when that truth is hard to swallow.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Mar 06, 2013, 05:34 PM EST
In the case of O'Brien it has not been established whether his homosexual acts were consented or not by the other priests only allegatios have been made. His sin was his hypocrisy in condemning what he was practising.
eiriamach | Mar 06, 2013, 04:00 PM EST
Thanks for saying you agree, Smyrnian. Some men don't take sexual harassment seriously, but most women know it's real.
Smyrnian | Mar 06, 2013, 01:19 PM EST
Eireamach - Totally agree with you. Well said. Anyone who believes these were freely consenting adults acting without undue influence has no idea. They are victims. Hope this guy and those like him get due punishment.
seamus60 | Mar 06, 2013, 09:25 AM EST
All thats proven so far is that he is a gay HYPOCRITE. He should be apologising to the gay community as a first step.
SingleDonald | Mar 05, 2013, 08:37 PM EST
Seanomelb, thanks for the compliment! I must disagree with eiramach & bunkerisland. The age of consent is generally 18, sometimes a little lower. It is absurd to consider someone 19-22 to be incapable of consent. Considering the difference in status, I see nothing wrong with anyone asking anybody else out, so long as they are adults. If the invitation is declined, and the higher level person procedes to make life miserable for she/he who rejected the request, THEN it is a matter of sexual harassment. To illustrate this point, imagine my work supervisor was Jennifer Aniston, or Katie Couric. After I proved myself on the job, I would likely ask them out! (Assumimg JA was single; I realize she is expecting twins, and will marry soon.) If either asked me out first, I would be flattered by the invitation, and would readily accept! I would not revert to a boy under 18, just because there would be a difference of "power & status" between me and these 2 ladies. The "politically correct" crowd seeks to abridge individual rights, in the name of some presumed "higher goal" of eliminating sexual harassment. They are wrong! The next thing you know, 25 will be the new 18, all in the name of "protecting" these people, usually females, from themselves!
eiriamach | Mar 05, 2013, 06:26 PM EST
Seanmor, the cardinal's sexual exploits were not with "consenting adults." He was their superior, with power to end their careers and to do them other harm if they refused. He extorted sex from them; that's called sexual harassment, and it's usually forbidden by anti-discrimination laws. In any case, it's seriously wrong to use power to manipulate or outright coerce others into having sex, just as it's wrong to use force or violence. It makes no difference whether the sex was homosexual or heterosexual or whether the victims were adults. They were under his control and power. He deserves far worse than losing his job. He ought to be in prison, along with pedophiles who prey on children.
seanomelb | Mar 05, 2013, 05:44 PM EST
Seanmor being a homosexual is ok,but to condemn it and practise it is not. O'Brien pushed Romes line on homosexuality making him a hypocrite and left him no option but to resign.
mcsan1942 | Mar 05, 2013, 03:37 PM EST
It's so sad to see what the Catholic Church has become. It used to be, when I was a child, that one just knew that a Priest could be trusted with your child, brother, sister or neighbor. They were thought of as God's own messenger here on earth. Now...all we hear is what lying, two faced pedifiles and Queers some have been. They couldn't have planned a better way to destroy a Beautiful Religion if they had sat down and drawn a map. How sick God must feel when seeing what they have done while representing him. When saying for them to love all man-kind I'm sure he didn't me rectally. May they all burn in hell for how the world now perceives our Church.
mcsan1942 | Mar 05, 2013, 03:34 PM EST
It's so sad to see what the Catholic Church has become. It used to be, when I was a child, that one just knew that a Priest could be trusted with your child, brother, sister or neighbor. They were thought of as God's own messenger here on earth. Now...all we hear is what lying, two faced pedifiles and Queers some have been. They couldn't have planned a better way to destroy a Beautiful Religion if they had sat down and drawn a map. How sick God must feel when seeing what they have done while representing him. When saying for them to love all man-kind I'm sure he didn't me rectally. May they all burn in hell for how the world now perceives our Church.
Seanmor | Mar 05, 2013, 12:27 PM EST
It is alledged that this prelate had homosexual relations with priests in the 1980s. But should he have to resigh on account of this activity? In recent years homosexual behavior among consenting adults has become increasingly acceptable, even glamorized. Such being the case, no highnranking clergyman should be forced toresgn for such behavior.
warlocks | Mar 05, 2013, 02:09 AM EST
O'Brien has a lot of nerve asking to be forgiven he's hidden his sins for all those years, God knows how many more people or children he has abused or forced to have sex with him. He's just a filthy rotten minded Man How many others are being hidden by the Vatican ?
bunkerisland | Mar 04, 2013, 07:21 PM EST
On what basis does SingleDonald assume that "seminarians were adults and likely gay? Are youth 19-22 really adults? Is there evidence that most seminarians are gay?
seanomelb | Mar 04, 2013, 05:51 PM EST
SingleDonald makes a valid point.
SingleDonald | Mar 04, 2013, 05:22 PM EST
Very true, pedophiles can be single, married, straight, or gay. Jerry Sandusky is a married man, who went after pre teen boys. He finally was exposed & convicted, thank heavens! Also, Cardinal Keith O'Brien reminds me of what was said about Roy Cohn, in the movie, "Citizen Cohn",: "A Jew who persecuted Jews; A GAY WHO PERSECUTED GAYS"! Still, we all must remember that these seminarians were adults, and likely gay. Therefore, Cardinal O'Brien should not be regarded with the same contempt as we have for Jerry Sandusky. As far as allowing priests to date & marry women, this would not entirely wipe out pedophilia, in the priesthood. However, it would attract straight men, who wished to go out with women, and possibly marry them. Thus, a different type of man would enter the priesthood, which would enhance the eradication of pedophilia. Gay priests who don't go after sub teen boys would continue to serve the priesthood well.
anglo-norman | Mar 04, 2013, 05:21 PM EST
The biggest pedophile & homosexual ring in the world the Catholic Church...FACT. GROW UP Ireland.
seanomelb | Mar 04, 2013, 04:44 PM EST
O'Briens sin was not that he was gay but the hypocrisy in condemning gays
olovely | Mar 04, 2013, 02:20 PM EST
The hypocrisy is nauseating. Condemning gays for years whilst being gay himself? This is the face of modern do as I say not as I do Catholicism.
pilib04 | Mar 04, 2013, 01:42 PM EST
What bothered me most about O'Brien's pontificating on a married priesthood was his failure to address full participation of women in the priesthood.
pilib04 | Mar 04, 2013, 01:38 PM EST
What a despicable person and to think there was the suggestion here, only a few weeks ago, that O'Brien be elected Pope. I am very concerned about the vetting process for Pope.
Smyrnian | Mar 04, 2013, 12:15 PM EST
Seamus - pedophiles do not get that way because they are unmarried. Marriage has nothing to do with it. A married pedophile is still a pedophile.
Rebelforce | Mar 04, 2013, 11:25 AM EST
Cardinal O'Brien is the same guy who has become notorious among Human Rights campaigners for his vigorous homophobic attacks on gay marriage and gay adoptions, calling homosexuality a "grotesque subversion" and "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved". Colin MacFarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, which named O'Brien "bigot of the year" last year, challenged the cleric and the Scottish church to explain why he had not apologised directly to the gay community. "We note with sadness that the cardinal didn't find it in him to apologise to gay people, their families and friends for the harm his vicious and cruel language caused," he said.
Fitzyboy | Mar 04, 2013, 11:22 AM EST
*** to clarify my point: not all Priests, Priests invloved in these sick acts ***
Fitzyboy | Mar 04, 2013, 11:19 AM EST
It seems that at one point, say from the 50's on, there was some understanding in the pedophile/deranged sexual thinking community that the Catholic Priesthood was where to join, go and apply your trade with impunity. We are way beyond a few "bad apples" as these sickos move in the same circles. They all need tried, put in general population and suffer finally in the same manner as Boston priest Geoghan.
SeamusMartin | Mar 04, 2013, 11:19 AM EST
RCC! For God's sake let priests and nuns be allowed to marry. Let women be ordained. Would you deny the Holy Mother saying Mass? Why in Heaven's name, you continue in your stubborn, patriarchal, seventh century mode, is beyond sane contemplation.
bunkerisland | Mar 04, 2013, 10:50 AM EST
I denied it because I was not given the details of my fondling of seminarians which I forgot about. Now that I know more of the details I admit a few indiscretions but of course it was a long time ago, only on a few occasions and everyone will forgive me, particularly the seminarian who left the Church as a result of his trauma. Now I go off in retirement to live comfortably with others cooking my meals, making my bed, washing my clothes and insuring I am very comfortable. There must be some fine estate, well heated and comfortable where I can retire with some Popes blessing!
eiriamach | Mar 04, 2013, 09:02 AM EST
Who does he think is in a position to forgive him -- any human being? Two victims of his sexual harassment have already expressed pity for him. His confession is big news not only because he is the highest-ranking church official to admit his sexual exploitations, but because his flock has been so loyal to his Church. Today's NY Times report, by John F. Burns, says that O'Brien's "sudden downfall is a major crisis for the church in Scotland, where most of the country’s 750,000 Catholics are of Irish ancestry and live in the central belt between Glasgow and Edinburgh. As migrants or their descendants, they suffered decades of discrimination.... 'It’s possibly, in terms of the internal history of the Church, the biggest crisis in the history of Scottish Catholicism since the Reformation,' said Tom Devine." O'Brien underestimates the redemption he needs.