Cardinal Keith O'Brien 'right' to resign ahead of conclave

Cardinal Keith O'Brien's immediate resignation as leader of the Scottish Catholic Church was the right thing to do, according to a Vatican adviser.

Britain's most senior Roman Catholic has been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards priests dating back to the 1980s - claims he contests.

He had been due to take part in the election of Pope Benedict's successor.

Professor John Haldane said it would "not be helpful" for him to go to Rome "under the cloud of these allegations".

The allegations against Cardinal O'Brien emerged in a report in the Observer newspaper on Sunday.

It said three priests and one former priest, from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, complained to the Pope's representative to Britain, nuncio Antonio Mennini, in the week before 11 February.

The Vatican confirmed on Monday that the cardinal had stepped down from his post.

The move leaves Britain unrepresented in the forthcoming conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.