Cardinal Finally Apologizes For His "Improper Sexual Conduct”. And He Wanted To Be the Pope

A cardinal at the center of an international scandal over alleged sexual abuse reversed course Sunday, acknowledging wrongdoing.

"I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal," Cardinal Keith O'Brien said in a statement.

Until days ago, O'Brien was the archbishop of Scotland.

O'Brien has been dogged by allegations he abused four men studying to be priests in the 1980s.

"In recent days certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them," O'Brien said.

"To those I have offended, I apologize and ask forgiveness."

He also apologized to "the Catholic Church and people of Scotland."

He did not explain exactly what "conduct" he was referring to.

O'Brien resigned last month, weeks before he had planned to. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI had decided to make the resignation effective immediately.

The British newspaper The Observer reported that three priests and one former priest leveled accusations against O'Brien that date back 30 years. The Observer did not recount details of the claims or identify the men, but said one of the priests alleged "that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him."

The Scottish Catholic Media Office said at the time that O'Brien contested the claims and was "taking legal advice."

The same office released O'Brien's new statement on Sunday.