Disg raced cardinal is given the last rites on his 80th birthday
Catholics asked to pray for sex scandal O’Brien
THE disgraced former head of the Catholic Church in Scotland received the last rites yesterday on what was his 80th birthday.
The health of Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh five years ago following disclosures that he made sexual advances to younger priests, has deteriorated since he suffered a fall last month.
The shamed clergyman has been living in effective exile in England under arrangements agreed by the Vatican which bar him from setting foot north of the Border.
He has been in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Newcastle but was admitted to hospital in the city after a fall in which he broke his collarbone and suffered a head injury.
On Friday night, Archbishop Leo Cushley, of St Andrews and Edinburgh, sent a message to more than 200 ‘brother priests and deacons’ to tell them of the cardinal’s deterioration and yesterday he visited the hospital to administer the sacrament.
Archbishop Cushley said: ‘I went to see him a few weeks ago and he barely recognised me, although at that time his life did not appear to be in danger. However, his condition is not improving and he may not have long to live. If this situation continues, and if he is able to be moved, he will be taken to the Little Sisters of the Poor to receive palliative care.
‘Please remember him in your prayers.’
Born at Ballycastle, Co Antrim, on St Patrick’s Day in 1938, O’Brien was ordained a priest in April 1965, and became Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh 20 years later in May 1985. He was made a cardinal on October 21, 2003, and took part in the election of Pope Benedict in 2005.
But he resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh on February 25, 2013, and retired from public life a week later following disclosures about his sexual conduct. There were claims of inappropriate behaviour towards junior clergy and allegations that he had abused the power of his position. The allegations revolved around his relationships with four men dating back to the 1980s.
He said on his resignation: ‘I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.
‘To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise.
‘I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland.’
In March 2015, the Vatican announced it had accepted his resignation from the rights and duties of a cardinal, though it was widely believed that Pope Francis had insisted on a final cutting of ties.
Cardinals lose the right to take part in future papal elections, and carry out the other responsibilities of their rank, on their 80th birthday – the landmark which he reached yesterday.
‘I apologise and ask forgiveness’