General Chat

Sky News - Britain's Top Cardinal Keith O'Brien Resigns

AnnCardiff - I agree with you,

I was never really convinced that the reason for the Pope's retirement was ill health as it is unheard of for a modern Pope to retire.

At the time he announced his retirement there was much talk of a secret dossier that was locked away in the Pope's safe and this news today is, as you say, only the tip of the iceberg, and that iceberg is what I think was the real reason he retired.

I wonder if we will ever see the rest of the iceberg?

I wonder how many other resignations we'll see in the coming weeks.
Don't buy the ill health story. Never did.

The Catholic Church aren't known for doing things differently or being particularly progressive as a rule....so the resignation of a pope for the first time in 600 years won't have been without something pretty damning behind it. imho.

In the statement Cardinal Keith O'Brien released he makes no mention of the allegations against him, he says:-

"Approaching the age of seventy-five and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago"

His Statement:-

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/215327-cardinal-keith-obrien-resignation-statement-in-full/

I thought he was due to retire shortly anyway.

They are claiming the accusations have been made now so he could not take part in the vote for the new Pope.

if he has done what he is accused of he should be jailed

Yes indeed. Here we go again.

Ann I would be really grateful if you could either edit or delete your post which states that 'they're all at it'.


If you read my latest post on the Christian thread, you will see why I find your comment distasteful and upsetting.


Whatever anyone's views may be, please do not tar everyone with the same brush.

Thank you.

well Cynthia its not like he will be the first

so yes i can see Anns coment been relevant :-( :-(

It is not big news. He had already presented his resignation / retirement last year, due to be effective next month; it has just been brought forward. His statement can be read http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21575931

Sorry Joy. I hope you read my post on the other thread. In view of that, I find Ann's comment very upsetting.


Several former music teachers from the predigious Chethams School of Music in Manchester have been accused of 'inappropriate behaviour' with pupils - does that mean ALL music teachers 'are at it;? No, of course it doesn't. But there's bound to be more than just them........maybe there's a musical inappropriate iceberg lurking somewhere.

Cynthia, do not be so quick to take offence. I am sure that there are many other icebergs yet to be discovered, it only took one to sink the Titanic.

Re the Pope, I just feel that he is an old sick man who is weary and feels he cannot cope any longer with the politics of the church. They need to elect younger Popes.

Hi Chris.....it isn't a matter of being quick to take offence. It's a culmination of the recent antagonism towards ALL priests on here which upsets me.

As soon as there is something derogatory towards the church in the newspapers.....up goes a new thread.


I wouldn't care, but there seem to be very few churchgoers on here who are willing to stand up and be counted, so why are folk who are non church goers so keen to 'have a go'???

Cynthia, I am not a churchgoer but I do agree with you about the bias towards Christians that is quite often shown on this board and I do think Ann's comment is uncalled for.

I'm keen to have a go at any organisation that systematically covers up child abuse.

What incenses people, I think, is that the churches, of all institutions should be the ones to cherish and care for children. Not only are children abused by those who should care for them but then the church tries to sweep it under the carpet.

Bad enough when it's a secular organisation but most of us expect better of the churches.

didnt Jesus say come unto me little children


the church should be a place of safety for a child :-(
sadly this is not always the case :-(

anybody no matter what job they do
who abuses children or anybody else should be hung out to dry :-( :-( :-(

Because readers often seem keen to want to know who reported what by whom:

I reported a post by AnnCardiff on 25 Feb 2013 11:31 as I thought it was irrelevant to the cardinal's resignation / retirement that had been planned and and announced and has now been brought forward slightly.

Ann Cardiff

I have requested your post for review ..... I object to your comment

I thought speculation on the reasons it was brought forward would be very relevant to the thread. The person who posted it must have thought so as well because he agreed with what Ann said.

A shame no one else can agree or disagree as it's been whisked away.

Totally unnecessary reporting. I hope GR agree.

i have seen the results of child abuse
i would love to tell you examples
but that would betray the confidences of others and i wont do it

but its not pretty i can tell you
and dont think it ends with a childhood because it lives with them forever

Cynthia I think that the animosity for want of a better word towards Rome when abuse etc raises its ugly head is that for centuries not a word was allowed to be uttered/thought or one feared one would spend eternal life in everlasting damnation.

The priest's word was law , how dare that little girl/boy say such nasty things and a good beating was what they deserved and probably got. In rare cases when the church took action, it was merely to move the priest to another parish where he continued his life style.

It has been the constant denial of Rome over many years which upsets.

Let us be fair, people of this ilk will be found everywhere in every walk of life whether it be choirmasters, scout masters, teachers, vicars. Anywhere where there are children. It is one of the reasons why I believe priests should be allowed to marry. But there is always one bad apple in the barrel.

At long last we appear to be listening. I feel that the word 'all' was loosely used rather than 'here is another one'.

On your comment re churchgoers. You know why I am not even before I took ill. However that does not register that I am a non-believer. Quite the opposite whilst in hospital for that 6 month stay I often had communion on a Sunday morning. I am Anglican for those interested.