Scottish Catholic Observer

There has been premature speculation in the national secular press today (see below) about Cardinal Keith O’Brien ‘stepping down’ and the reasons why. While no longer president of Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, as cardinal His Eminence remains the most senior Catholic clergyman in Scotland until his retirement.

While Cardinal O’Brien (above left) has had a period of ill health, and has come under attack for defending Church teaching on marriage, the fact remains the torch is naturally being passed to the next generation of bishops—Archbishop Philip Tartaglia (right), Bishop Joseph Toal and Bishop Hugh Gilbert—as existing members of the conference near retirement age, 75, as set by the Vatican. No one is being ‘forced’ out.

At the national Year of Faith Mass on Sunday, Cardinal O’Brien said: “Thankfully we also have that new generation of bishops, ‘Vatican II Grandchildren,’ who have been appointed more recently by Pope Benedict XVI and are more than ready, willing and enthusiastic in their desire to lead our Church ever more strongly in the years which lie ahead.”

Read full report in this Friday’s SCO.

For the Herald report, click here.

For the Scotsman report, click here.