The UK’s most senior Roman Catholic official and leading opponent to same-sex marriage has resigned after a group of Scottish priests accused him of inappropriate behavior 30 years ago.
O’Brien, who previously compared gay marriage to slavery and called it a “violation of human rights”, was due to resign on his 75th birthday in March.
However, the four priests called for his resignation ahead of schedule, hoping to ensure that the Cardinal would not be present in Rome for the election of the next Pope, known as the conclave. They feared O’Brien’s presence would prevent a proper investigation into their claims, which The Vatican is now undertaking.
According to USA Today, Cardinal Roger Mahony, the retired Archbishop of Los Angeles, is also under pressure to withdraw from the conclave:
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More than 30,000 pages of priest personnel records released last month revealed that Mahony had been directly involved in covering up for priests who were known to have abused children and teens.
O’Brien’s absence leaves Britain unrepresented in the election once fellow quitter Pope Benedict XVI officially steps down on Thursday. Benny accepted O’Brien’s resignation today, though in a statement, O’Brien claims he resigned months ago.
“Approaching the age of seventy-five and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago. I was happy to know that he accepted my resignation ‘nunc pro tunc’ — (now — but to take affect later) on 12 November 2012.”
By the way, this really isn’t helping to squash any of these conspiracy theories.
1EqualityUSA
He’ll receive a nice, fat pension. This is the loser who likened homosexuality to slavery and abortion. I hope he has a miserable retirement. Hypocrite. This is the guy who called us all kinds of offensive things and, yet, he’s gay himself. I can’t stand it. This is the clown who used collection plate money to fight gay marriage. What a piece of work. I hope they all get outed. This sleazy church needs to go down in flames.
Dionte
Demons thought they were smart. Never underestimate your enemy. A few may go down but they have something else up their long sleeves.
rand503
I hope that the British newspapers make a big stink of this. “Anti-gay and anti-same sex marriage Cardinal steps down due to ‘inappropriate’ relationships with male priests.”
That should shut up the anti-gay crowd quite a bit.
Joetx
I’m sure this latest embarrassment – in a LONG line of embarrassments – doesn’t deter the Catholic hierarchy one bit in their war against LGBT people.
2eo
@rand503: They aren’t. They’re far more occupied with attacking the Liberal Democrats, although the part they’re playing in our vile government and their policies of decimating everything Great about Britain means limited sympathy.
We in Britain just expect this type of behaviour from religious preachers, frankly we’re only shocked it apparently isn’t paedophilia and pedastry.
queerty1958
Imagine that…A Catholic Church scandal!
yaoming
Resigning because he’s been “at times in indifferent health” – that’s a good one.
Cam
I’ve not seen anything to dispute the thought that pretty much all of these really anti-gay bigots are just bitter closet cases.
Ted Haggard, George Reckers, This guy etc…
Snickers
“at times in indifferent health” ?????? What a truckload of horse crap!!!!! HOW IN GOD’S NAME DOES IT APPLY TO HIM QUITING?????
indif·fer·ent/in?dif(?)r?nt/
Adjective
1.Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned. Eg: “indifferent to foreign affairs”.
2.Neither good nor bad; mediocre. Eg: “attempts to distinguish between good, bad, and indifferent work”.
Synonyms: unconcerned – nonchalant – listless – apathetic
Harley
I’m sure he’ll fit right in with the Log Cabin Repugnant-clans. Hypocrits like him like to hang together and tell all their war stories about stabbing their own kind in the back to make a buck.
mcflyer54
Maybe he’ll move on to a political career. He is certainly a big enough hypocrite with sufficient BS to run for office.
1EqualityUSA
Catholic is political, that’s how you know they are of the dark side. Worldly.