Archbishop Forced To Apologize to Gays Takes Over Resigning Cardinal

  A senior cleric who was forced to apologise after suggesting homosexuality can kill has stepped into the post held by Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s until his resignation 

By John Bingham 

  In one of the final acts of his pontificate, Pope Benedict appointed the Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, to run the archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh temporarily.The Vatican announced that Archbishop Tartaglia, the second most senior Catholic cleric in Scotland, would be the Apostolic Administrator until a permanent successor is found for Cardinal O’Brien.Cardinal O’Brien stepped down with immediate effect and announced he would not be joining the Conclave to elect the next Pope after allegations of “inappropriate” behaviour with male priests emerged.He denies the allegations and it in understood he has not been told even who his accusers are.
He suggested that the MP’s death from acute pancreatitis could be linked to his homosexuality.

Archbishop Tartaglia faced a furore last year when comments he made about the death of the Labour MP David Cairns in a speech at Oxford were published.

He said: "If what I have heard is true about the relationship between the physical and mental health of gay men, if it is true then society is being very quiet about it.

"Recently in Scotland there was a gay Catholic MP who died at the age of 44 or so and nobody said anything. And why his body should just shut down at that age?

“Obviously he could have had a disease that would have killed anybody. But you seem to hear so many stories about this kind of thing, but society won't address it.” he was referring to homosexuality.

He later apologised to Mr Cairns’s family and said publicly that he wished he had never made the remarks.

In a short statement the Archbishop asked for prayers as he temporarily takes on Cardinal O’Brien’s role.

“These are painful and distressing times for the Archdiocese, I also feel pained and distressed,” eh said.

“With the grace of God, I will do my very best to oversee and govern the Archdiocese until the appointment of a new Archbishop. I ask for your prayers.”

In an open letter to worshippers, the Archbishop spoke of the "pain" caused by the allegations about the Cardinal and how Catholics had endured "jibes".

"These are painful and distressing times for this venerable Archdiocese" he said.

"You have lost your Cardinal Archbishop in the most difficult of circumstances.

"I am so sorry for everyone involved and I assure them of my prayers.

"I too feel pained and distressed.

"The people of the Archdiocese are having to bear the impact of these sad events as you go about your daily lives in your communities and at work.

"You have to cope with disturbing media reports and you have to face the questions, the critical comments, the unkind remarks and the jibes."

He said that the auxilliary bishop Stephen Robson would take charge of the day-to-day running of the archdiocese adding: "I want you to know that Bishop Robson, the priests of the Archdiocese and I are one with you in these unfortunate circumstances, and thank you for your faithfulness and love of the Church.

"At this time, we need more than ever to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ who alone is our Saviour, our Good Shepherd and our Consoler.”