From John L. Allen Jr., CNN Senior Vatican Analyst
updated 6:49 AM EST, Mon February 25, 2013
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on February 19, 2012 in Vatican City, Vatican.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The pope accepted Cardinal Keith O'Brien's resignation last week
- On Sunday, a British newspaper reported four men accused O'Brien of abuse
- The men, according to the report, were studying to be priests during the alleged abuse
Rome, Italy (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Scotland's Roman Catholic archbishop, the Vatican said in a statement released Monday.
The announcement follows weekend allegations that Cardinal Keith O'Brien abused four men studying to be priests in the 1980s. The resignation was submitted months ago, and it was accepted last week, the statement said.
On Sunday, the British newspaper The Observer reported that three priests and one former priest leveled allegations against O'Brien that date back 30 years.
The Observer did not recount details of the claims or identify any of O'Brien's accusers, but said one of the priests alleged "that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him."
O'Brien did not attend Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, but the Scottish Catholic Media Office told CNN that the cardinal "contests these claims and is taking legal advice."
His accusers took their complaints to the Vatican representative in Britain and demanded O'Brien's resignation, The Observer reported. At the Vatican, Father Federico Lombardi, a spokesman for the church, told reporters that Pope Benedict XVI has been informed of the allegations.
Part of complete coverage on
updated 6:08 AM EST, Mon February 25, 2013
Ben Affleck may not have earned recognition in the directing category, but his movie "Argo" walked away with the best picture Oscar.
updated 7:56 PM EST, Sun February 24, 2013
Stars pose for photos as they walk the red carpet at the 2013 Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
updated 3:37 PM EST, Tue February 19, 2013
He declared last summer to be a "dream come true." Now Oscar Pistorius has entered what could be one of the darkest periods of his life.
updated 6:10 AM EST, Fri February 22, 2013
The man expected to become Italy's next prime minister won't pound the bully pulpit like Silvio Berlusconi.
updated 7:49 PM EST, Fri February 22, 2013
These days, almost all new cellphones look alike: they're sleek black rectangles with glowing color screens.
updated 11:31 PM EST, Sun February 24, 2013
A published report in Italy, denied by the Vatican, alleges a more shocking reason why the pope resigned.
updated 2:40 PM EST, Thu December 20, 2012
South Koreans step up to CNN's Open Mic and say what they think of their new female president, Park Geun-hye.
updated 11:03 AM EST, Thu February 21, 2013
Spain's "Indignado" protests were a political awakening for many of the country's citizens. Now protests, sit-ins and marches are common.
updated 5:13 AM EST, Mon February 25, 2013
Fauja Singh, a 101-year-old runner, ran his last race, a 10k, at the Hong Kong Marathon.
Use our interactive to explore how those Academy Awards numbers, past and present, stack up against each other.
updated 10:56 AM EST, Fri February 22, 2013
Films can still take us away. Get a feel for "Les Miserables" in Paris' oldest neighborhoods or head to Washington for the Lincoln scenery.
Scottish archbishop resigns amid abuse claims
This article
Scottish archbishop resigns amid abuse claims
can be opened in url
http://newsuncoloured.blogspot.com/2013/02/scottish-archbishop-resigns-amid-abuse.html
Scottish archbishop resigns amid abuse claims
