Cardinal O’Brien

There are times when having crystal balls are quite useful. The quote (below) appeared in ‘Concerned4Democracy’ last year. It followed Cardinal O’Brien sending out 500 letters to be read out in Catholic Churches on the same day. In these letters he railed against gay marriage.....

“He has a bloody nerve. As Cardinal for the kiddy-fiddlers, abusers and cover-up sect masquerading as a world faith he would be much better engaged putting his own house in order. 

Perhaps all of this palaver over gay marriage is a welcome distraction to divert the attention of their flock from matters nearer to home (and the knuckle)?” Concerned4Democracy Aug 2012

He admitted this weekend that he had carried out improper sexual acts throughout his career. “However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.” O’Brien statement 3/3/13

This is the same man who said that same-sex relationships were a "grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right."

What kind of hell was this guy operating in? He knew what he had been up to so was he in denial? There must be some degree of self-loathing involved to indulge in the very acts you condemn in public. Also the lack of concern for his victims is striking - but not atypical of the church he served. 

O’Brien is not a ‘loose Cardinal’ - there are many turning up for the shindig at the Vatican who inhabit a similarly weird world where their public pronouncements are not reflected by their private behaviour. A brass-necked American Cardinal is there, despite being shown to have covered up serial abuse in his diocese. He has not been turned away.

All this pales into insignificance against the real crimes here. Victims are victimised further by the machinery of the Vatican rolling out against them. Last weeks reaction to the revelations was dominated by condemnation of the 4 priests for ‘political ends’ - and ‘why did they wait so long’ etc etc. There is little sympathy or concern for the victims. Their concerns were dismissed as ‘unfounded allegations’ and ignored. Ratzinger was involved in the cover up of abuses before he became Pope.

A further twist. Despite the Vatican being told about these offences back in early February, O’Brien would have been entitled to attend the conclave beginning today. No action taken in public - no withdrawal of permission to attend - nothing. The cover-up continues. And now they say the Vatican will hold an inquiry - - in secret!

Oh yeah, we can trust a bunch of repressed weirdly obsessed elderly men to do the right thing can’t we? 

No.