"It tends to cover up and protect the system at all costs," said one of the complainants. "The church is beautiful, but it has a dark side and that has to do with accountability. If the system is to be improved, maybe it needs to be dismantled a bit."
The four complainants asked a senior figure in the diocese to act as their representative to the nuncio's office. Through this representative, the nuncio replied, in emails seen by the Observer, that he appreciated their courage.
It is understood that the first allegation against the cardinal dates back to 1980. The complainant, who is now married, was then a 20-year-old seminarian at St Andrew's College, Drygrange, where O'Brien was his "spiritual director".
The Observer understands that the statement claims O'Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers.
The seminarian says he was too frightened to report the incident, but says his personality changed afterwards, and his teachers regularly noted that he seemed depressed.
He was ordained, but he told the nuncio in his statement that he resigned when O'Brien was promoted to bishop. "I knew then he would always have power over me. It was assumed I left the priesthood to get married. I did not. I left to preserve my integrity."
In a second statement, "Priest A" describes being happily settled in a parish when he claims he was visited by O'Brien and inappropriate contact between the two took place.
In a third statement, "Priest B" claims that he was starting his ministry in the 1980s when he was invited to spend a week "getting to know" O'Brien at the archbishop's residence.
His statement alleges that he found himself dealing with what he describes as unwanted behaviour by the cardinal after a late-night drinking session.
"Priest C" was a young priest the cardinal was counselling over personal problems. Priest C's statement claims that O'Brien used night prayers as an excuse for inappropriate contact.
The cardinal maintained contact with Priest C over a period of time, and the statement to the nuncio's office alleges that he engineered at least one other intimate situation. O'Brien is, says Priest C, very charismatic, and being sought out by the superior who was supposed to be guiding him was both troubling and flattering.
Those involved believe the cardinal abused his position. "You have to understand," explains the ex-priest, "the relationship between a bishop and a priest. At your ordination, you take a vow to be obedient to him.
"He's more than your boss, more than the CEO of your company. He has immense power over you. He can move you, freeze you out, bring you into the fold he controls every aspect of your life. You can't just kick him in the balls."
All four have been reluctant to raise their concerns. They are, though, concerned that the church will ignore their complaints, and want the conclave electing the new pope to be "clean". According to canon law, no cardinal who is eligible to vote can be prevented from doing so.
The revelation of the priests' complaints will be met with consternation in the Vatican. Allegations of sexual abuse by members of the church have dogged the papacy of Benedict XVI. Rumours have swirled in Rome that his shock resignation may be connected to further scandals to come.
Many Catholics had been hoping his move would help the church begin a new era untainted by such issues. But recent headlines, including the latest about O'Brien, show how unlikely that is.
Several prelates due to take part in the papal election are facing questions over how they handled sex-abuse claims.
They include Cardinal Justin Rigali, the former archbishop of Philadelphia, who retired in 2011 five months after the archdiocese was stunned by an abuse scandal, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of New York, who last week was questioned over the abuse of children by priests in his former archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Cardinal Sean Brady, primate of All Ireland, has faced calls to resign over his failure in the 1970s to report the activities of a serial abuser and is under pressure not to attend the papal election.
United States cardinal Roger Mahony's transgressions have caused outrage in Los Angeles, where he is emeritus archbiishop. Last month, a court ordered the release of files relating to more than 120 accused priests which showed that Mahony had protected the clerics. He insists on his right to vote in Rome, claiming he has been "scapegoated" and unfairly disgraced.
Yesterday, papal spokesman Father Federico Lombardi attacked what he said was a rumour mill working overtime to discredit the church, condemning the "gossip, misinformation and sometimes slander" that had been swirling in the wake of the Pope's resignation.
-Observer
