'Pope’s own house must be put in order' says former Archbishop of Westminster

Feb 26 2013 By Cheryl Mullin

“I think that what has happened will for him and for the Church in Scotland have been very damaging.

“But I think Cardinal O’Brien who is a very honest man... whoever goes in will look at the allegations that have been made and he himself has contested them. So I think we have to leave it like that.”

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor said part of the role of the apostolic administrator appointed to the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh while the post remains vacant would be to examine the allegations made against Cardinal O’Brien.

Cardinal O’Brien said he will not travel to Rome to take part in the conclave to elect a new pope in order to avoid becoming a focus of media attention.

His decision has left Britain’s Roman Catholics with no vote in the conclave as Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, at 80 years old, is ineligible to cast a vote.