By Mirembe Martina

UK senior Cardinal, Keith O’Brien has resigned as the vote for the next pope draws near.

Cardinal O’Brien resigned with immediate effect after being accused of “inappropriate acts” towards fellow priests. Pope Benedict accepted his resignation as the archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh came.

O’Brien denied the allegations against him and other priests of the ‘inappropriate acts’.

A statement released by the church today showed that the pope accepted O’Brien’s resignation a week ago, on 18 February.

“I have valued the opportunity of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest,” Cardinal O’Brien said in his resignation statement. “Looking back over my years of ministry, for any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended.”

“I also ask God’s blessing on my brother cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor. I will not join them for this conclave in person. I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me, but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor. However, I will pray with them and for them that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they will make the correct choice for the future good of the church. “May God, who has blessed me so often in my ministry, continue to bless and help me in the years which remain for me on Earth and may he shower his blessings on all the peoples of Scotland especially those I was privileged to serve in a special way in the archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh,” he added.