THE Catholic Church in Scotland has remained silent over fresh allegations of misconduct against Cardinal Keith O'Brien.
The church has failed to respond after a London-based newspaper reported a fifth priest had made an allegation of inappropriate behaviour by the cardinal.
It was reported that the fifth accusation surrounds misconduct towards a priest in 2001 which was reported to the Vatican last autumn.
The allegation is the fifth to come to light but is understood to be the first complaint made against the former head of the Catholic Church in Scotland.
The priest is believed to have written to Rome because he did not think he could trust the church hierarchy in Scotland to handle the claim.
A source quoted in the report claimed that this initial allegation prompted the other four men, three priests and a former priest, to come forward.
The source said: "Lots of people are pillorying the four priests whose cases came out at the weekend, but this is the context. It gave them the confidence that they would be heard. It started people talking and it gave them the confidence. It took someone to put his head above the parapet.
"The four who have been in the papers had the courage to name what should be named."
The other claims relate to misconduct alleged to have taken place in the 1980s with one of the supposed victims saying he felt he had no choice but to obey his superior.
Cardinal O'Brien, who denies the allegations and is seeking legal advice, resigned from his post on Monday.
The Herald made numerous attempts to contact the church without response.
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