Britain's top Catholic is accused over young priests: Cardinal may be excluded from voting on next Pope



Cardinal O'Brien, 74, faces claims of inappropriate attention by four priests



One priest alleges 'unwanted behaviour' after late-night drinking



Another priest said he was 18 when 'inappropriately approached

O'Brien now faces demands for his immediate resignation

But a former archbishop says people 'must listen' to the cardinal's side



Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned as Archbishop of St Andrew's and Edinburgh over the allegations. One of his accusers says the church would 'crush' him, given the opportunity

Church leaders are debating whether to allow Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic clergyman to take part in the vote to choose a new pope after he was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ towards young priests 30 years ago.

Vatican officials last night admitted they were aware of the accusations against Cardinal Keith O’Brien and that the final decision was ‘in the Pope’s hands’.

Cardinal O’Brien, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and Britain’s only representative at the election of the next Pope, missed a morning Mass in Edinburgh at which he was due to celebrate the Pope’s eight-year tenure. He denies all the allegations.

It is understood the complaints by three serving priests and a former priest were reported to the Vatican through the papal ambassador to Britain a week before the Pope’s announcement that he was to step down.

The complainants – all associated with the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh – are said to have told Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Mennini they want Cardinal O’Brien to resign before next month’s conclave to pick a new pontiff.



The 74-year-old, who is due to retire next month, will be the only British churchman eligible to vote.

The former priest claims the cardinal made an inappropriate approach to him in 1980 after night prayers, when he was a seminarian at St Andrew’s College in Drygrange, Roxburghshire, where the cardinal was spiritual director.

The complainant, who is now married, is reported to have said he gave up the priesthood when Cardinal O’Brien was first made a bishop.

He said: ‘I knew then he would always have power over me. It was assumed I left the priesthood to get married. I did not. I left to preserve my integrity.’

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