Britain's most senior priest in the Roman Catholic Church Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned over allegations of inappropriate behaviour up to 30 years ago.
The news comes just a day after claims by three priests and a former priest first emerged in a newspaper.
Cardinal O'Brien confirmed that he was to step down immediately, saying in a statement: "The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today.
"Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended."
The 74-year-old Cardinal - Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh - should have been travelling to the Vatican this week to help choose the next Pope.
He said he would not be joining the conclave to choose a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, adding: "I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me - but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor."
The Vatican confirmed the news soon after.
The Cardinal missed the traditional Sunday Mass at his main Cathedral, St Mary's in Edinburgh, on Sunday (February 24) after the Observer newspaper carried allegations relating to actions by him 30 years ago.
The claims emerged just days after Cardinal O'Brien had called for the Catholic Church to end its celibacy rule for the priesthood.
He had told the BBC: "I realise that many priests have found it very difficult to cope with celibacy as they lived out their priesthood, and felt the need of a companion, of a woman, to whom they could get married and raise a family of their own."
Cardinal Keith O'Brien was the only British Roman Catholic cleric able to vote in the upcoming conclave electing Pope Benedict XVI's successor.
The conclave is expected to take place in the next three weeks.
March 15 had been the date when most commentators expected the conclave to start but an announcment by the Vatican on Monday raised the possibilty that it could start sooner.
The Pope has now decreed that it can start as soon as all the eligible cardinals are in Vatican and agree that it can begin.
Cardinal O'Brien's resignation means Britain now has no one able to vote in the forthcoming conclave to elect the next leader of the 1.2bn Roman Catholics worldwide.
Bishop Stephen Robson, who is auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, made a statement at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh explaining why the Cardinal could not attend the week's main mass on Sunday.
He said: "A number of allegations of inappropriate behaviour have been made against the Cardinal.
"The Cardinal has sought legal advice and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time."
In his resignation statement, Cardinal O'Brien said he had previously offered his resignation but it had only been accepted now.
Cardinal O'Brien had been expected to resign on March 17 as it was the date of his 75th birthday. Cardinals older than 75 are not allowed to vote in the conclave.
He is no stranger to making the news with his views.
He has been an advocate of priests marrying but an outspoken opponent of plans to legalise same-sex marriage.
Last year his stance landed him the award, Bigot of the Year, from the gay rights group Stonewall.
In 2007 he caused controversy when speaking on the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act he said the termination rate north of the border was equivalent to "two Dunblane massacres a day".
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