Top Cardinal Resigns Ahead of Earlier Papal Conclave

Accusations of sex abuse have led to the resignation of the UK’s top cardinal, just days before the Papal conclave will convene – an event that Pope Benedict XVI has changed the rules to move up.

FOX News Radio’s Courtney Walsh reports from the Vatican:

(Vatican Spokesman) “That resignation was accepted...”

A Vatican spokesman confirmed that Pope Benedict has accepted the early resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien.  The Archbishop of Scotland has been accused by three current and one former priest of sex abuse.  O’Brien, who has rejected the charges, turns 75 on March 17th, the normal age when a Cardinal submits a resignation.

The Pope has also made changes to election rules, allowing the Cardinals to move forward the date of the conclave if all are in Rome.  The Vatican also said a report on the VatiLeaks scandal, when the Pope’s butler leaked papers, will remain private and shown only to the next Pope.

At the Vatican, Courtney Walsh, FOX News Radio.