The ongoing election of a new pope marks the second conclave in a row without a Scottish cardinal, a void that stems from the scandal surrounding Cardinal Keith O’Brien. Despite Scotland’s prominent history in the Catholic Church, the country’s reputation has been deeply affected by O’Brien’s abrupt resignation in 2013, following allegations of sexual misconduct.
A Seismic Blow to Scotland’s Church Standing
In the spring of 2013, Cardinal Keith O’Brien was poised to take part in the election of Pope Francis. But just days before the conclave began, O’Brien resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, dating back to the 1980s. The scandal rocked the Catholic Church, diverting attention away from the Vatican’s most important event and casting a shadow over Scotland’s historical influence within the Church.
At the time, O’Brien was Britain’s highest-ranking Catholic cleric, and the revelation that he would not be attending the conclave was a shocking blow to Scotland’s standing in the Church.
Despite his resignation, O’Brien was allowed to retain his title as a cardinal, though he largely receded from the public eye. He spent his final years in relative isolation before passing away in 2018. However, the impact of the scandal has left a lasting stain on Scotland’s representation at the highest levels of Catholicism.
A Brief History of Scotland’s Cardinals
Scotland’s relationship with the Catholic Church is long and complex, dating back to the Reformation, which restricted the practice of Catholicism for centuries. It wasn’t until 1878 that the Catholic Church was formally re-established in the country, but the lack of significant clergy appointments persisted for nearly another century.
The first Scottish cardinal after the Reformation was Archbishop Gordon Gray, who received the red hat in 1978. He participated in two conclaves in that year, during which Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II were elected. But the most significant moment came in 1982, when Pope John Paul II visited Scotland for the first time, drawing a crowd of 300,000 people to Bellahouston Park in Glasgow.
Cardinal Thomas Winning, another notable figure, was appointed in the 1990s, but his tenure was marked by controversy, particularly regarding his outspoken stance on social issues. His successor, Cardinal O’Brien, was elevated in 2003 by Pope John Paul II, and played a key role in the election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. However, his career ended abruptly with the scandal that emerged in 2013.
The Ongoing Fallout
While O’Brien’s resignation was widely regarded as a personal failure, the scandal has cast a long shadow over Scotland’s relationship with the Vatican. As the Catholic Church continues to grapple with its global sexual abuse crisis, Scotland remains in what some experts describe as the “sin bin” of the Vatican, a position of isolation caused by the scandal and the absence of a Scottish cardinal during crucial moments.
Today, Scotland’s lack of representation in the ongoing conclave is a poignant reminder of the deep scars left by the events of 2013. Though the Church has made strides in addressing its issues, the legacy of Cardinal O’Brien’s fall from grace continues to shape Scotland’s place within the Catholic world.
