Monday 19 March 2018

Extraordinary Ordinary V Ordinary Extraordinary


Cardinal Keith O' Brien has died R.I.P. When Mau died, The Dalai Lama discouraged celebration. Jesus would have too, encouraging us to pray for our enemies. I would not wish to cause any further pain to anyone hurt by O'Brien but with the previous examples in mind, we should now pray for him. This in no way seeks to imply that those hurt shouldn't have had justice in seeing him removed from high office or that anyone yet to come forward shouldn't have their stories heard and cries for justice met. Yet according to today's SKY News "When the scandal peaked in 2013, he stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh." so it would appear he had the conscience and honour to do the right thing and go, rather than to try and stick it out UNLIKE some we know!
How do the two match up?

 "Cardinal Keith O'Brien was alleged to have engaged in inappropriate activity involving four men - three serving priests and one former priest."

Abbot Cuthbert Brogan I know engaged in inappropriate activity with me, but let's for now, just leave it at the same "Alleged" level as the late Cardinal's.

"The allegations dated back to the 1980s."

Abbot Cuthbert Brogan began grooming me in autumn 1987 and elicited a sexual response by summer of 1988.

"When the scandal peaked in 2013, he stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh."

Abbot Cuthbert Brogan over a year later has NOT stepped down.

"At the time, he said: "My sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal."

Abbot Cuthbert Brogan has made no public statement and in this respect his response is more typical and highlights perhaps that with his humiliation, the late Cardinal was prepared to take responsibility for his actions.

"He was succeeded, temporarily, by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, who said the episode had damaged the "credibility and moral authority" of the church."

And Abbot Cuthbert Brogan's episode(s) ????

"After stepping down, Cardinal O'Brien retired from public life and moved to the north of England."

Abbot Cuthbert Brogan remains in situ and continues to attend public engagements.

"Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh said: "In life, Cardinal O'Brien may have divided opinion.
"In death, however, I think all can be united in praying for the repose of his soul, for comfort for his grieving family and that support and solace be given to those whom he offended, hurt and let down"
"Support and solace be given to those whom he offended, hurt and let down!!??"
 With regard to Abbot Cuthbert Brogan....YEAH...Still Waiting...Waiting.... unless you mean nice letters from prelates without hierarchical authority and nothing from those that do!
"Catherine Deveney, the journalist who broke the story about Cardinal O'Brien's abusive behaviour, told Sky News: "On a human level, it's sad that he has died and we must have regard for his family and friends. "But we can't forget the serious issues within the Catholic Church that he represents. His behaviour was a symptom of corruption in an organisation that lost its way.
"I would never criticise him for being gay or for his own lifestyle choices, but the hypocrisy of saying one thing publicly and doing another privately is an abuse of power that's symptomatic of a wider abuse in the Catholic Church."
This final paragraph, not surprisingly, is as appropriate with regard to Abbot Cuthbert Brogan as it was to The Late Cardinal Keith O'Brien R.I.P.




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