SCOTLAND’S new cardinal-elect has set himself on a collision course with his fellow bishops following comments he made after a special mass of thanksgiving yesterday. Archbishop Keith O’Brien called on the Church to remain open to change on topics such as gay clergy, marriage among priests, and artificial contraception.

Archbishop O’Brien made the comments a day after the announcement that he is to be appointed cardinal at the ecclesiastical senate in Rome on October 21. He said the controversial issues were open for discussion as they were part of church law, unlike abortion, which, like murder, was part of God’s law.