Successor does not need to be cardinal

THE dramatic and forced resignation of Keit h O’Brien as Scotland’s most senior Catholic will not automatically see another cardinal installed in Scotland in the near future.

Although only the third churchman to wear the Red Mitre since the re-establishment of t he Catholic hierarchy in the 1870s, the fact all were in recent times indicate the Vatican was appointing cardinals on the basis of geography.

All that was clearly changed with the appointment of Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Westminster and the leader of England’s four millionplus Catholics in 2009, without his being made cardinal.

The position taken by the outgoing Pope Benedict has been to appoint cardinals on merit and not on where they are.

There would appear to be a ready-made successor.

The Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia is already head of the Bishops’ Conference, the decision-making body for the church in Scotland, as well as being the leader of the largest congregation north of the Border.

He also has a profile and standing within senior Vatican circles.

However, lay sources say it could be this highstanding which could see Tartaglia accelerated through the Catholic ranks to become a Papal Nuncio.

The Vatican could, however, decide Scotland’s current need was greater.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen could be another contender as he is seen as deeply theological, although having been a monk for decades with little pastoral roles this could be a major disadvantage.

There are also a number of well-placed Scots within the Vatican who could be dispatched home in its hour of need.

Among those mentioned are Monsignors Patrick Burke and Leo Cushley, the current Pope’s English translator.