That’s “Cardinal In Name Only”, similar to “RINO“.
Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien has resigned his position.
O’Brien reportedly had long and multiple relationships with other men during his tenure, and at least five – including four priests – accused him of sexually harassing or pressuring them into sex in allegations that went back to the 1980s.
There were formal written complaints from multiple priests to the British papal nuncio; Cardinal O’Brien had stepped down from his regular duties in 2013 during the Vatican investigation.
Why is this interesting, other than my odd fascination with the inner workings of the Catholic church? Reason #1: there hasn’t been a resignation of a cardinal in the church since 1927 (according to this source).
Reason number two is that Cardinal O’Brien is still “Cardinal” O’Brien:
On Friday, the Vatican announced that O’Brien would become a cardinal in name only. He loses the rights and privileges of a cardinal, such as voting for pope, but is still a priest and a retired bishop.
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