Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia has said the Scottish Church’s ‘credibility and moral authority have been undermined’ in the wake of Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s resignation, but the Glasgow Archbishop vowed that the Church here would not ‘throw in the towel.’

The unexpected early acceptance of Cardinal O’Brien’s resignation on Monday February 25, ahead of his 75th birthday, followed accusations of inappropriate behaviour by three priests and an ex-priest being made public. On Sunday, the cardinal issued a statement saying ‘initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature’ led him to contest the allegations.

“However, 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,” he went on. “To those I have offended, I apologise and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologise.”

The cardinal also said he will now spend the rest of his life in retirement and he would play no further part of the public life of the Church in Scotland.

An ongoing Vatican instigation into the complaints will report in due course with a Scottish Church spokesman saying ‘we expect that they will be investigated and a conclusion drawn.’

Archbishop Tartaglia, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said at a Lenten station Mass, in St Andrew’s Cathedral on Monday, that it was a ‘sad episode’ and ‘a sad moment for the Church in  our country.’

The archbishop, who the Vatican has placed in charge of St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese until a new archbishop is appointed there, said that the Church could not ignore the accusations of hypocrisy that the affair had generated.

“Many reproaches have been aimed at the Church and at individuals over this matter,” he said. ”The most stinging charge which has been levelled against us in this matter is hypocrisy, and for obvious reasons. I think there is little doubt that the credibility and moral authority of the Catholic Church in Scotland has been dealt a serious blow, and we will need to come to terms with that.”

Archbishop Tartaglia said the ‘Church’s mission in our country has been undermined’  but Scottish Catholics should not be ‘defeatist.’

“The answer to this sad episode is not to throw in the towel,” he said.

—     [email protected]

–        This story was reported in full in the March 8 print edition of the SCO

PIC: PAUL McSHERRY