Keith O'Brien
Apostolic Administrator of Argyll and The Isles, Scotland (1996–1999) | |
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Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Motto | Serve the Lord with gladness |
Coat of arms |
Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien (17 March 1938 – 19 March 2018) was a senior-ranking
O'Brien was the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland[1] and had been the head of its conference of bishops until he stepped down as archbishop in February 2013. O'Brien's resignation followed publication of allegations that he had engaged in inappropriate and predatory sexual conduct with priests and seminarians under his jurisdiction and abused his power.[2] O'Brien was opposed to homosexuality, which he described as "moral degradation",[3] and a vehement opponent of same-sex marriage.[4]
On 20 March 2015, the
Early life and education
O’Brien was born at
O'Brien studied at the
O'Brien was then moved to full-time parish apostolate in St Patrick's, Kilsyth from 1972 until 1975 and then St Mary's, Bathgate from 1975 until 1978. He served as spiritual director to the students at St Andrew's College, Drygrange from 1978 until 1980; then as Rector of St Mary's College, Blairs, the junior seminary near Aberdeen, from 1980 until 1985.
Archbishop and cardinal
O’Brien was nominated Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh on 30 May 1985 and was consecrated by Gray, then
O'Brien was made Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the
In 2004, O'Brien was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from
O'Brien was Apostolic Administrator of the
When O'Brien announced on 25 February 2013 that Pope Benedict had accepted his resignation as archbishop, he said he would not exercise his right to participate in the
Curial appointments
After his creation as cardinal, O'Brien was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and also a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. He was President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland and fulfilled various engagements at the request of other members of the Conference. He was sometimes referred to as the "Primate of Scotland";[16] however, this title or position has never existed.
Resignation as archbishop
O'Brien tendered his resignation from the governance of the
Sexual misconduct and consequences
In 2013 allegations became public that O'Brien had engaged in homosexual, inappropriate, sometimes predatory sexual activity from the 1980s to 2003.
Accusations and admission
On 23 February 2013, The Observer reported that O'Brien had been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour involving four men (three serving priests, and one former priest) within the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh dating back to the 1980s.[18] The former priest resigned the priesthood when O'Brien became a bishop and stated, "I knew then he would always have power over me. […] I left to preserve my integrity."[18] It was reported that one complainant needed long term counselling due to the actions of O'Brien.[19]
One of the four, referred to only as "Priest C", alleges that the degree of control a superior has over subordinate priests made it hard for him to refuse O'Brien's demands. "He [the bishop above a priest] has immense power over you. He can move you, freeze you out, bring you into the fold [...] he controls every aspect of your life."[18]
The complaint demanding O'Brien's immediate resignation was lodged with the Vatican's ambassador to the United Kingdom and there were efforts to silence at least one critic.[20]
O'Brien initially contested the allegations. According to the
On 3 March 2013, the Scottish Catholic Media Office released a statement from O'Brien in which he said, "I [...] admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal."[24][25] He said he intended to retire permanently from the public life of the church.[26] Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, temporary successor to O'Brien, said the "credibility and moral authority" of the church had been damaged.[26]
The same month, a former priest announced his intention to sue O'Brien, saying O'Brien had
O'Brien was further accused of trying to grope a priest in 2003 in Rome at a drinks party to celebrate his becoming a cardinal.[31] It was also alleged that O'Brien had been in a long-term physical relationship with one of the complainants.[32]
O'Brien faced allegations of a "culture of cronyism" within his archdiocese,[33] and that this made him less likely to challenge priests to whom he had made advances.[34][35]
In 2015,
Ecclesiastical response
On 27 April 2013,
O'Brien returned to Scotland and attempted to settle into the church-owned cottage he had planned as his retirement home in
The Vatican stated on 15 May 2013 that O'Brien "will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance" and "Any decision regarding future arrangements for His Eminence [Cardinal Keith O'Brien] shall be agreed with the Holy See."[47]
Supporters of O'Brien objected to the church requiring O'Brien to leave Scotland; John
The four complainants said that O'Brien needed psychological counselling rather than prayer and penance. One accusing priest said, "Keith is extremely
Throughout the scandal, the Catholic Church in Scotland failed to act. As of July 2013, O'Brien was still Britain's most senior Catholic. According to Peter Kearney, the director of communications of the Catholic media office (which was largely unavailable for official comment), only Rome could handle the O'Brien affair; nobody in Scotland had authority to challenge a cardinal.[2]
According to Catherine Deveney writing in The Observer, Archbishop Tartaglia, who was temporary leader of St Andrews and Edinburgh following O'Brien's resignation, failed to confront the issue, and behind the scenes "church insiders" were critical; one told her that "He is completely lacking in leadership qualities". Kearney told The Observer there could be no Scottish investigation because the nuncio had rightly not identified the complainants. However, this was not the case; Kearney apparently did not know that
Deveney said that this issue was no longer about personal failure, but systemic failure, and reported that theologian Werner Jeanrond said "As a church, we have failed to come to terms with homosexuality. The highest clerical representative of the church is himself a victim of the system which didn't allow him to own his homosexuality." She added that there are many other scandals involving Scottish clergy, including at least one bishop; misdeeds include sexual misconduct, heavy drinking, payoffs to cover scandals and serious abuse; and she said that "O'Brien knows where the bodies lie. And the hierarchy knows he knows." She said that the issue was not about Scottish clergy, but was worldwide.[2]
In July 2013 O'Brien was reported to be in a monastery in Europe or an enclosed abbey in the English
Apostolic visitation
After some delay, it was reported in The Observer on 23 June 2013 that the Vatican had decided to hold an
According to the article, senior figures in Rome said the visitation would also deal with the more general accusations of moral failings in the church in Scotland.
The complainants have been negotiating with Archbishop
O'Brien had since January 2014 been living, initially incognito, in a home provided by the Catholic Church[58] in the village of Ellington, Northumberland, fifty miles south of the Scottish border.[59] O'Brien later moved to Newcastle on Tyne.[60]
Charles Scicluna investigated O'Brien in April 2014[61] and such an investigation of a cardinal appears unprecedented.[62] There are concerns that the report, allegedly "hot enough to burn the varnish" from the Pope's desk, remains unpublished.[63]
Following Scicluna's apostolic visitation, the Holy See announced on 20 March 2015 that Pope Francis had "accept[ed] the resignation of Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien from the rights and duties of a Cardinal".[64][65] A statement for the Catholic Church in Scotland confirmed that O'Brien would continue to live outside Scotland until such time as his age and infirmity required that situation to be reviewed. He retained the title of Cardinal, but did not any longer carry out the functions of a cardinal and was only allowed to wear a cardinal's robes in private. According to the Holy See Press Office O'Brien would not take part in papal elections, act as papal adviser, or take part in Vatican congregations and councils, and would lose other roles of a cardinal.[66] Journalist David Gibson wrote that "Those developments, [Scicluna's unpublished report, the home bought for O'Brien, that O'Brien was not officially punished] plus the fact that O'Brien can keep the title of cardinal ... may also keep the issue on the boil rather than cooling it off."[67] The ecclesiastical historian Christopher Bellitto said, "What's odd, in this papacy especially, is that O'Brien loses the power, but not the pomp, ... a red hat is still a red hat, even if there is no punch behind it."[67][68]
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is concerned that the transparency Pope Francis promised is absent and the cardinal's wrong or abusive actions have been kept secret. There is further concern that other clerics failed to disclose abuse by O'Brien which they reasonably should have known or suspected. Abusive bishops have resigned in the past, but action against complicit clerics and bishops who conceal abuse would be a helpful innovation because it would help prevent further abuse and concealment.[69]
Consequences
O'Brien was the first misbehaving Catholic cardinal whose case was dealt with publicly. Richard Sipe, a US former priest working on church abuse, said at the time that O'Brien was not the only case: "We have someone here too. It will go public soon." He was referring to US Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was ultimately, unlike O'Brien, stripped of his cardinalate.[28]
The O'Brien case forced accountability and discussion of such cases on the Catholic church, and Rome was forced to create a process. According to O'Brien's victim Keith Devlin, O'Brien's and McCarrick's cases are linked: "If we hadn't gone to the Observer back then, the church would have dealt with McCarrick quite differently. Without O'Brien, there would be no church process."[28]
Health and death
O'Brien said, while criticising a parliamentary bill on embryology in 2008, that he carried an
O'Brien died after a fall on 19 March 2018, two days after his 80th birthday.[72]
Views
O'Brien was often forthright in his political and spiritual views.
Secularism
In 2011 he criticised "aggressive secularism", denouncing what he said was the way Christians had been prevented from acting in accordance with their beliefs.[76] O'Brien said aggressive secularism threatened the Christian heritage and he wanted religion to remain in the public sphere. Specifically, legislation requiring Christians to tolerate homosexuality was a type of secularism O'Brien opposed, and he called on Christians of all denominations to unite in combating secularism.
Referring to equality legislation which prevents discrimination against homosexuals, he [O'Brien] said Christians faced being sidelined in British society because they were not willing to publicly endorse lifestyles that run contrary to their belief system.[77]
His [O'Brien's Easter 2011] homily included instances where Christians had fallen foul of equality legislation, preventing discrimination against gay people, and swiftly drew fire from groups campaigning against religious privilege in public life.[78]
Homosexuality
Before becoming a cardinal, O'Brien had been regarded as "liberal" on the issue of
In January 2006 he criticised
In December 2011, O'Brien reiterated the Catholic Church's continued opposition to civil partnerships and suggested that there should be no laws that "facilitate" same-sex relationships, saying that
The empirical evidence is clear, same-sex relationships are demonstrably harmful to the medical, emotional and spiritual well being of those involved, no compassionate society should ever enact legislation to facilitate or promote such relationships, we have failed those who struggle with same-sex attraction and wider society by our actions.[85]
In 2012, O'Brien criticised in The Daily Telegraph government proposals to introduce same-sex marriage, saying it was "madness", and would "redefine society since the institution of marriage is one of the fundamental building blocks of society", and thus shame the United Kingdom.[86] Conservative MP Margot James, who was considered one of the most influential gay women in 2009,[87] called these comments "scaremongering" and said: "I think it is a completely unacceptable way for a prelate to talk. I think that the government is not trying to force Catholic churches to perform gay marriages at all. It is a purely civil matter." The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman, said: "We have had prejudice, discrimination and homophobia for hundreds of years. That doesn't make it right. ... I don't want anybody to feel that this is a licence for whipping up prejudice."[88] Dan Hodges wrote: "I can't remember the last time I read a more morally and intellectually bankrupt rant from a senior member of the clergy."[89]
The LGBT rights campaigners Stonewall awarded O'Brien "Bigot of the Year" at their annual awards in 2012.[90] The award was criticised by First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, as being "clearly wrong" and "not conducive to a proper and dignified debate on the important issue of equality in Scotland".[91]
Clerical celibacy
On 22 February 2013, in an interview with the BBC, O'Brien said he was open to the possibility of removing the requirement of
Abortion and embryo research
In May 2007 O'Brien urged Roman Catholics to reject political candidates who support what he called the "social evil" of abortion, and said that such Catholic politicians should not expect to remain full members of the church.[93]
During March 2008, O'Brien highlighted the issue of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill being debated in Parliament, denouncing the government for a "monstrous attack on human rights" through its "evil" endorsement of "Frankenstein" experiments. Some scientists suggested that he intentionally used inflammatory language to stir up opposition to the bill; others argued he was sticking up for morals and forced the Government to allow MPs to vote freely on the issue. (Gordon Brown had originally imposed a three-line whip on Labour MPs, meaning they had to back the bill, regardless of personal convictions.)[94][95][96]
O'Brien himself narrated a five-minute video recording in which he stated the "many, many concerns" of the Catholic Church concerning the bill which was to be voted on in Parliament. It was posted on YouTube, and sent as a DVD to every member of Parliament.[97] In the video O'Brien made clear he was not against medical research, and supported research with non-embryonic stem cells, but was opposed to using embryos which would later be destroyed. He expressed the church's concerns over "human-animal hybrids".[70]
British politics
In February 2010, the
In March 2011, O'Brien called British foreign policy "anti-Christian" for greatly increasing aid to
British monarchy
O'Brien called for a 310-year-old law banning Catholics from taking the throne to be repealed. He said the
Scottish independence
In an interview with the
Poverty
In 2011, O'Brien preached a homily including the quote below.
Travelling around our own Archdiocese and visiting schools, primary or secondary basically every week I realise that there are more and more children needing a nourishing meal provided by the State each day and this is accomplished throughout schools with the help of the State. No one can say that unemployment is no longer with us – rather at times it seems to be increasing. Further with the present economic recession biting harder and harder the needs of our people have become increasingly difficult to satisfy and it is not just the "poorest of the poor" who have to be helped by the
St Vincent de Paul Society but rather people who might have considered themselves rather well off. In previous years it might have been relatively easy to recognise the signs of poverty in our community – but that is not quite the same at this present time when not only do the poor become poorer but very often the rich become poor! I would put it to the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society that they should consider how best to answer those calls for alleviation of poverty by an increasing number in our society who previously were and consider themselves “well off” but now find themselves and their families in rather straitened circumstances.[105]
See also
References
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- ^ a b c d e Deveney, Catherine (18 May 2013). "Three months on, a cardinal is banished but his church is still in denial". The Observer.
- ^ "Shamed Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien leaving Scotland 'for penance". The Independent. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ Stanford, Peter (19 March 2018). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ Bingham, John (20 March 2015). "Pope Francis strips disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien of privileges but not title". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Assignment of the Titles or the Deaconries to the new Cardinals". The Holy See. Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
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- ^ "St Andrews University: Keith O'Brien will keep his honorary degree". HeraldScotland. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
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- ^ Bingham, John (8 March 2013). "Scottish priests 'out of control sexually', says former abuse adviser". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Lamb, Christopher (23 August 2013). "Cardinal O'Brien stopped probe of Scottish abuse files, says Conti". Archived from the original on 27 August 2013.
- ^ a b c "Cardinal Keith O'Brien resignation: Statement in full". BBC News. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ^ "Pope accepts disgraced Scottish prelate's resignation from cardinal status". Catholic News Agency. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Pope accepts disgraced Scottish prelate's resignation from cardinal status". Catholic News Agency. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat, 27 March 2009
- ^ "Rome-based Scot replaces disgraced Cardinal O'Brien". BBC News. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ a b c Catherine Deveney (23 February 2013). "UK's top cardinal accused of 'inappropriate acts' by priests". The Guardian.
- ^ "Britain's Top Cleric Cardinal Keith O'Brien Resigns Following 'Inappropriate Behavior' Accusations". Christianpost.com. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
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- ^ 'Cardinal Keith O'Brien was like God to me. Then he tried to seduce me': the whistleblower's tale The Guardian
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- ^ Kevin Rawlinson (3 May 2013). "Shamed church leader Cardinal Keith O'Brien: 'I didn't always go on the right path'". London: Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Catholic Church 'asks Vatican to step in' over O'Brien concerns". Local.stv.tv. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien to leave Scotland for 'prayer and penance'". BBBC News. 15 May 2013.
- ^ a b Sam Masters (15 May 2013). "Shamed Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien leaving Scotland 'for penance time' following inappropriate sexual conduct revelations". London: Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Cardinal Keith O'Brien pays penance at Vatican". Channel4.com. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Vatican: Cardinal O'Brien leaves Scotland to pray, atone after admitting to sexual misconduct - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. 16 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Independent Catholic News, Vatican statement on Cardinal Keith O'Brien, 15 May 2013". Indcatholicnews.com. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ Rosemary Goring (20 May 2013). "The Herald (Scotland): Cardinal's victims need all our sympathy, 20 May 2013". Heraldscotland.com. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ^ Catherine Deveney (18 May 2013). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien still a danger, say abuse accusers". London: Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ Marshall, Chris (24 July 2013). "New Archbishop Cushley promises 'reconcilliation [sic]' - Top stories". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Severin Carrell and Lizzy Davies (24 July 2013). "Vatican appoints replacement for disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien | UK news". London: theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ "Vatican 'finished with Cardinal Keith O'Brien'". Scotsman.com. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ a b Victoria Raimes. "Vatican to launch Cardinal Keith O'Brien probe". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Catherine Deveney (23 June 2013). "Vatican agrees to inquiry into Cardinal O'Brien's sexual conduct | World news | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ^ a b Catherine Deveney (March 2014). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien's accusers take fight for justice to the pope". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ "Disgraced Keith O'Brien faces Vatican 'trial'". Scotsman.com. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ a b STEPHEN MCGINTY (3 March 2014). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien finances 'examined'". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ "Keith O'Brien stripped of the rank of cardinal – an extraordinary disgrace for the Scottish Church - Coffee House". Blogs.spectator.co.uk. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ McLeod, Keith (16 July 2014). "Revealed: Sex shame cardinal Keith O'Brien enjoying retirement in £208k Northumberland bungalow provided by Catholic Church". Dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Cardinal Keith O'Brien, disgraced Catholic church leader, dies The Guardian
- ^ Davies, Lizzy (4 April 2014). "Vatican to investigate sexual allegations against Cardinal Keith O'Brien". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Disgraced cardinal's archdiocese subject of Vatican investigation". Ncronline.com. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Report into Cardinal O'Brien should be published". Thetablet.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Church welcomes Pope Francis' decision to accept Cardinal O'Brien's resignation" (Press release). Scottish Catholic Media Office. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ Allen Jr., John L. (20 March 2015). "In rare step, Scottish prelate caught in sex scandal quits as cardinal". Crux. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
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- ^ a b Gibson, David (20 March 2015). "Scandal-scarred Cardinal Keith O'Brien renounces 'rights and privileges' of his office". The Washington Post. Religion News Service. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- Archdiocese of Vienna, in Vienna, Austria, Hans Hermann Groër, who was found to have abused many, was asked by Pope John Paul IIto relinquish his duties as archbishop and cardinal; he denied the allegations until his death.
- ^ Boorstein, Michelle (20 March 2015). "Cardinal steps down over sexual impropriety allegations, a first since 1927". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Link to 10 April 2008 YouTube video in which O'Brien himself talks about the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill". Youtube.com. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Scotland: Cardinal O'Brien gets pacemaker". BBC News. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Cardinal Keith O'Brien dies after fall". BBC News. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Scotland: The 'Cardinal of Controversy'". BBC News. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "archiveDay". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Matthew, Gospel, chapter 9, lines 10-13.
- ^ a b "Cardinal Keith O'Brien criticises secularism". BBC News. 24 April 2011.
- ^ a b Caroline Wilson (25 April 2011). "Cardinal on attack over secularism". Heraldscotland.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ a b Riazat Butt (24 April 2011). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien warns of threat from 'aggressive secularism'". London: Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ The Telegraph, October 2003
- ^ "Official Report Debate Contributions - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament". Scottish.parliament.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ Gerry Braiden (21 March 2013). "Cardinal was in physical relationship with accuser". Heraldscotland.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ The Scotsman, 28 March 2005
- ^ Cardinal in family life broadside, BBC, 1 January 2006
- ^ Sunday Times, 24 July 2006
- ^ "Scotland fails homosexual people". SCO News. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ^ O'Brien, Keith (3 March 2012). "We cannot afford to indulge this madness". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Gay Power: The Pink List 2009" The Independent, 2 July 2009.
- ^ "Catholic leader calls government's gay marriage plans 'madness'". The Guardian. London. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Gay marriage: people of faith need a better spokesman than Cardinal Keith O'Brien". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ Tom Peck, "Britain's most senior Catholic is named 'Bigot of the Year'", The Independent, 2 November 2012
- ^ "Storm over Stonewall's Cardinal Keith O'Brien 'bigot' award". BBC. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ "Cardinal Keith O'Brien: 'Allow priests to marry'". BBC Scotland. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ Cardinal sounds abortion warning, BBC, 31 May 2007
- ^ "Cardinal O'Brien attacks embryo research". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ MacDonald, Stuart; Oliver, Jonathan (23 March 2008). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien branded a 'liar' on embryo research by Labour peer". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008.
- ^ Johnson, Simon; Petre, Jonathan (21 March 2008). "Cardinal Keith O'Brien condemns Gordon Brown over 'monstrous' embryo Bill". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Scottish Catholic Media Office: Cardinal O'Brien & Bishop Tartaglia continue opposition to HFEA Bill, 10 April 2008". Scmo.org. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "British government systematically attacking family values, Cardinal O'Brien states". Catholic News Agency. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Bussey, Katrine (25 February 2010). "Pope could give Labour Party 'hell'". Press and Journal. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Cardinal launches attack on Labour". BBC News. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Cardinal O'Brien attacks UK's 'anti-Christian foreign policy' on Independent Catholic News". Indcatholicnews.com. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Catholic church leader criticises royal succession rule". BBC. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Bills before Parliament". parliament.uk.
- ^ Catholic leader backs Scottish independence, Scotland on Sunday, 15 October 2006
- ^ "St Vincent de Paul". Archdiocese-edinburgh.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
External links
- "O'Brien Card. Keith Michael Patrick". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- O'Brien's video concerning human embryos on YouTube
- Profile of Keith O'Brien at the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh website (deleted from live site) at the Wayback Machine (archived 18 June 2012)