Scottish cardinal resigned because of intrigues - Russian Orthodox Church
MOSCOW. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Head of the Scottish Catholic Church Cardinal Keith O'Brien has been forced to resign, the Russian Orthodox Church said.
"Cardinal O'Brien is another victim of the campaign, which began the day Pope announced his resignation, to force him to decide against participating in the conclave of influential prelates of the Roman Catholic Church, who were affected by scandalous publications in media," the secretary of the synod department on external clerical ties on inter-Christian relations, Dmitry Sizonenko, told Interfax on Tuesday.
Benedict XVI has accepted O'Brien's resignation. O'Brien said that he would not participate in the conclave to elect new pope.
Three acting priests and a former one have said in an interview with Britain's Observer newspaper that O'Brien "acted inappropriately" towards them. The cardinal, known for his criticism of homosexuals, denied all allegations.
The Russian Orthodox Church representative said, citing media reports, that three cardinals responsible for investigating sexual abuse in the Catholic Church were to report the preliminary results to Pope Benedict XVI in the coming three days. Some facts might be revealed to cardinals, who will gather for the conclave.
"Without a doubt, this will influence the choice in favor of a person with an impeccable reputation, strong will, and capable of reforming and "cleansing" the Roman curia, the necessity of which has been mentioned frequently by the current pope," the representative told Interfax.
The priest said that new incriminating publications were likely to appear as the conclave approached.
