Bombshell: Cardinal O’Brien of Scotland accused of “inappropriate behavior” by four priests

After making big news Friday, with his call for a married priesthood, Scotland’s Cardinal Keith O’Brien is now making headlines again— and the news is a stunner:

Britain’s most senior Catholic clergyman, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, has been reported to the Vatican for inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Three priests and one former priest have sent statements to the papal nuncio, Antonio Mennini, about sexual impropriety dating back to 1980.

As head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, next week O’Brien will be part of the conclave choosing the next Pope, but now he faces demands for his immediate resignation.

As reported by The Observer, one of the priests alleges that he has needed counselling after an inappropriate relationship with O’Brien.

A second complainant said that he was 18-years-old when O’Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers.

A third said he was invited to ‘get to know’ O’Brien at the archbishop’s residence only to face ‘unwanted behaviour’ from O’Brien after late-night drinking.

A spokesman for the cardinal said that he contests the allegations.

O’Brien, originally from Northern Ireland, has been Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 1985.

In November, he was named ‘bigot of the year’ by Stonewall, a gay rights charity, after he referred to same-sex marriage as a ‘grotesque subversion’.

There are additional details in The Guardian, as well.