Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Jimmy Savile and blowing smoke up the Catholic Church
CARDINAL Keith O’Brien has resigned. Gay rights group Stonewall once called the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, “bigot of the year”.
He’s accused of sexual impropriety against four priests, three of them still serving. Nothing has been proven. The cardinal has denied the charges. Piers Paul Read says in the Times that “his resignation suggests that there may be some fire behind the smoke“.
Does it?
Cardinal O’Brien has tendered his resignation as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Vatican policy advices that bishops retire at the age of 75. He’s 74.
Sex scandals are dogging Benedict XVI’s leadership.
Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has worries:
“Compromised by his own sexual misdeeds, it’s hard to imagine that O’Brien has properly handled paedophile priests.”
But he’s not been charged with any crime, let alone convicted. Is tis just open season on the Catholic Church?
How far does this go? Well, as a Cardinal, O’Brien gets to vote in the next Pope:
I also ask God’s blessing on my brother cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor. I will not join them for this conclave in person. I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me, but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor. However, I will pray with them and for them that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they will make the correct choice for the future good of the Church.”
In his resignation statement, O’Brien notes:
“Looking back over my years of ministry, for any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended.”
Penitence awaits.
Note: Jimmy Savile was a Papal knight. He was also a miracle of God’s love. And that is enough for the Mirro to run with the lead story above. Who needs God’s justice when you have an agenda..?
Posted: 26th, February 2013 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
