Cardinal Keith O'Brien. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.
Posted on 02/25/2013 1:56:20 PM PST by NYer
.- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted Cardinal Keith P. O’Brien’s resignation, and the cardinal has announced he will not attend the conclave.
"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 effect later) on 13 November 2012,” Cardinal O’Brien said in a Feb. 25 statement.
The Pope decided on Feb. 18 that he would accept his resignation effective Feb. 25.
The cardinal recently became the focus of allegations by three priests and a former clergyman who say they received inappropriate sexual advances from him during the 1980s.
The leader of the Saint Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese also announced that he will not be attending the conclave to elect 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,” he said.
“I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me – but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his Successor,” the Scottish cardinal added.
Pope Benedict will appoint an apostolic administrator to oversee the archdiocese until the next Pope chooses his replacement.
Ping!
Yay. I’m glad people are praying for the cardinals.
Accused of “inappropriate” conduct with fellow priests...
Kind of a major detail to leave out of the story.
there seem to be more and more not going to the conclave for whatever reasons. Since even pall elections involve politics, it will be interesting to see what group wins
So far only two have dropped out—but it is a blessing they are gone—and given that it takes 2/3rds to elect, it may matter a great deal.
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This story is being reported inaccurately in many places. It is being presented as if Cardinal O’Brien resigned because of the charges made against him. The truth is that he tendered his resignation four months ago because of his age as all bishops are required by canon law. Pope Benedict decided last week that it would take effect today, that is before the allegations against him came out.
Given that he is known as a hardline defender against homosexual marriage and the because of age it was known that he would be stepping down, it seems convenient that these charges were timed as payback and a way to claim victory when his resignation would eventually take effect.
Be prepared for more attacks and misreporting by the media in the days to come as a way to force the Church to bend to the demands of the world.
Yep. I'm not buying anything from the media at this time.
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