Cardinal faces probe into sex misconduct

Cardinal Keith O’Brien will face a Vatican inquiry after admitting his sexual conduct fell “beneath the standards” expected of him during his almost 50-year career.

By The Newsroom

Published 5th Mar 2013, 00:01 BST

The cardinal shocked the Roman Catholic community on Sunday when he indicated that he would not contest claims against him and intended to retire permanently from public life. The admission came a week after three priests and a former priest accused Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric of inappropriate behaviour dating back to the 1980s.

The cardinal, who stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in the wake of the scandal, has asked for forgiveness.

The inquiry is not likely to begin until after a new pope is chosen. It is understood the cardinal, who will not attend the conclave, is out of the country.

Don’t blame celibacy for sins: Page 13; Media scrum as cardinals gather: Page 15.

Britain St Andrews Edinburgh