Cardinal Keith O’Brien apologizes for sexual conduct, asks for forgiveness

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.

Thanks for saying you agree, Smyrnian. Some men don't take sexual harassment seriously, but most women know it's real.

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.

All thats proven so far is that he is a gay HYPOCRITE. He should be apologising to the gay community as a first step.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ?

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?

SingleDonald makes a valid point.

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.

The biggest pedophile & homosexual ring in the world the Catholic Church...FACT. GROW UP Ireland.