Britian’s Top Catholic Cardinal Resigns Amid New Scandal

The Archbishop of Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, has been forced to resign just days before the Pope Benedict XVI steps down, leaving Great Britain without a representative at the upcoming papal conclave. O’Brien, who heads the Catholic Church in Scotland and was the only British Cardinal eligible to vote for the new pope, has recently been accused of “inappropriate behavior” with some of his priests. He denies all the charges, but the growing storm over the accusations had created an unwelcome distraction at a pivotal time for the Chruch, and threatened to throw a cloud over the upcoming conclave. O’Brien announced that the Pope has accepted his resignation and he won’t be going to Rome next month for the vote.

The accusations against O’Brien date back to 1980 and were made by three priests and one former preist, who said he left the Church because was unable to serve under the Cardinal. He claims Cardinal O’Brien “made an ‘inappropriate approach’ to him after night prayers when he was an 18-year-old seminarian.” The others also complained of “inappropriate contact” and “unwanted attention” from OBrien.

He’s listening to Michael Jackson, “Smooth Criminal”.

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