Holy man and the sex beast
BRITAIN’S Catholic leader — sensationally fired by the Pope over a gay sex scandal — boasted of his close friendship with Jimmy Savile,
Cardinal Keith O’Brien formed a close bond with the BBC child sex beast over many years and paid a personal tribute to him after his death.
Yesterday it emerged that O’Brien, an outspoken opponent of gay rights, was ordered to resign by the Vatican after male priests came forward to say he behaved “inappropriately” towards them in the 1980s.
One said he was left needing long-term psychological counselling.
The country’s most senior Catholic cleric had planned to hang on until his 75th birthday next month.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien formed a close bond with the BBC child sex beast over many years and paid a personal tribute to him after his death.
Yesterday it emerged that O’Brien, an outspoken opponent of gay rights, was ordered to resign by the Vatican after male priests came forward to say he behaved “inappropriately” towards them in the 1980s.
One said he was left needing long-term psychological counselling.
The country’s most senior Catholic cleric had planned to hang on until his 75th birthday next month.
But the Pope told him to go immediately, plunging the Catholic church in Britain into turmoil.
The Cardinal — archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh — denies the allegations and is understood to be consulting lawyers.
But he issued a statement yesterday confirming Pope Benedict’s orders and apologising for “failures” during his ministry.
He paid tribute to his “friend” Savile after his death in October, months before the DJ was unmasked as one of the country’s worst ever child sex predators.
He told the Scottish Catholic Observer: “My friendship with Jimmy Savile developed over many years since I was assistant priest in St Patrick’s Parish, Kilsyth.
“We were always trying to fundraise, not only for the parish, but for a variety of local and national charities.”
Savile was awarded the papal knighthood in 1990, a decision the Vatican later admitted regretting.
The Cardinal — archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh — denies the allegations and is understood to be consulting lawyers.
But he issued a statement yesterday confirming Pope Benedict’s orders and apologising for “failures” during his ministry.
He paid tribute to his “friend” Savile after his death in October, months before the DJ was unmasked as one of the country’s worst ever child sex predators.
He told the Scottish Catholic Observer: “My friendship with Jimmy Savile developed over many years since I was assistant priest in St Patrick’s Parish, Kilsyth.
“We were always trying to fundraise, not only for the parish, but for a variety of local and national charities.”
Savile was awarded the papal knighthood in 1990, a decision the Vatican later admitted regretting.
The axing of O’Brien has left Britain’s Catholic church without a representative in next month’s meeting to select Pope Benedict’s successor.
O’Brien originally asked to retire on March 17 after suffering ill health. But he said in a statement yesterday: “The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today.”
O’Brien, of Ballycastle, Co Antrim, became archbishop in 1985 and was proclaimed a cardinal in 2003.
He vehemently opposed gay adoption and same-sex marriages and was named “bigot of the year” by campaign group Stonewall last year.
The Vatican acted after the complaints by three priests and one former priest, all from his St Andrews and Edinburgh diocese.
It is understood they submitted statements to the office of the papal ambassador to Britain the week before Pope Benedict’s resignation was announced on February 11.
The first allegation is thought to date back to 1980 when the complainant was an 18-year-old trainee priest at a college where O’Brien was his “spiritual director”.
He claims O’Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers, leaving the student too frightened to report the incident. He was ordained but later resigned.
A second priest described how he was happily settled in a parish when O’Brien visited and “inappropriate contact” took place.
A third claims he had to deal with “unwanted behaviour” from the cardinal after a late-night drinking session during a week-long stay with the archbishop in the 1980s.
The fourth, according to reports, claims O’Brien used night prayers as an excuse for inappropriate contact while he was counselling him over personal problems.
A spokesman for the cardinal said: “The allegations are anonymous and not specific and he contests them.”
O’Brien originally asked to retire on March 17 after suffering ill health. But he said in a statement yesterday: “The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today.”
O’Brien, of Ballycastle, Co Antrim, became archbishop in 1985 and was proclaimed a cardinal in 2003.
He vehemently opposed gay adoption and same-sex marriages and was named “bigot of the year” by campaign group Stonewall last year.
The Vatican acted after the complaints by three priests and one former priest, all from his St Andrews and Edinburgh diocese.
It is understood they submitted statements to the office of the papal ambassador to Britain the week before Pope Benedict’s resignation was announced on February 11.
The first allegation is thought to date back to 1980 when the complainant was an 18-year-old trainee priest at a college where O’Brien was his “spiritual director”.
He claims O’Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers, leaving the student too frightened to report the incident. He was ordained but later resigned.
A second priest described how he was happily settled in a parish when O’Brien visited and “inappropriate contact” took place.
A third claims he had to deal with “unwanted behaviour” from the cardinal after a late-night drinking session during a week-long stay with the archbishop in the 1980s.
The fourth, according to reports, claims O’Brien used night prayers as an excuse for inappropriate contact while he was counselling him over personal problems.
A spokesman for the cardinal said: “The allegations are anonymous and not specific and he contests them.”
By BRIAN FLYNN, Investigations Editor, and HARRY HAYDON
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