His Grace Is A Disgrace

Regarding "Cardinal who resigned admits sexual misconduct" (Monday Nation/World), Catholics are confronted yet again with a cleric admitting to sexual abuse, this time involving younger seminarians and priests, although admittedly in a seminary where teenage boys were prepared for the priesthood.

What is most distressing in this instance, though, is the behavior of Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Scotland up to and including the admission: First, using his authority and that of the church to cover up his misdeeds; second, strongly denying the accusations of his victims and immediately hiding behind lawyers; third, removing himself from public view while still admitting nothing in the hopes of quelling further investigation. According to Catholic doctrine, all of these are mortal sins, made all the more serious by his concerted efforts to deceive.

His so-called admission, though, was the greatest disappointment. Rather than offer a full and frank apology, O'Brien obfuscated, saying "my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest", and of his victims, his paltry admission was "To those I have offended, I apologize and ask forgiveness.” 

So there you have it: conduct not up to standards, and, may have offended somebody; sounds positively, well, inconsequential.

Let's forget for a moment the position of authority he so abused or the two popes (and possibly more) that he compromised with his actions over 25 or more years; what of his eternal soul? Where is the complete confession demanded of him as a Catholic and a penitent? If Cardinal O'Brien was so vague in describing his sins to his confessor, he would be guilty of yet another mortal sin. If he did give a full, frank confession and then offered this weasel-worded explanation to the public, he is guilty of yet another mortal sin.
 

As Catholics, we must regret the prospect of any soul willfully denying God's grace, as Judas did in betraying Jesus, but since Cardinal O’Brien’s statements and actions have been so completely self-serving, and since the Church has not repudiated him, we can also hope that there will be a full investigation conducted by civil authorities. Depending on the outcome, I suspect his declaration that "I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement" will prove to be more than a little wishful thinking.