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UK Cardinal skipping papal conclave amid accusations of improper behavior with priests

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VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict's decision to resign has set off a round of mudslinging that now appears to have brought down the highest-ranking Catholic leader in Britain.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien says he won't take part in the conclave to elect the next pope after being accused of improper conduct with priests.

O'Brien has also resigned as archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.

The Vatican insists that Benedict accepted his resignation purely because O'Brien is nearing the retirement age of 75. But O'Brien issued a statement saying he's skipping the conclave to avoid becoming the focus of media attention at a delicate time for the Catholic Church.

It's the first time that a cardinal has disqualified himself from a conclave because of personal scandal, and comes amid grass-roots efforts to shame Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony into refraining from participating because of his role in protecting sexually abusive priests.

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