SCOTLAND’S senior Catholic archbishop apologised yesterday for the “horrific crime” of children’s sexual abuse within the church.

Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia said the actions of abusers were “criminal and sinful” in his homily during afternoon mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral.

The comments came after the publication of an independent review calling for an “unmistakeable and unequivocal” apology from the church.

Mr Tartaglia said: “On behalf of all the bishops of Scotland, I want to offer a profound apology to all those who have been harmed and who have suffered in any way as a result of actions by anyone within the Catholic Church.

“Child abuse is a horrific crime. That this abuse should have been carried out within the church, and by priests and religious, takes that abuse to another level.

“Such actions are inexcusable and intolerable. The harm the perpetrators of abuse have caused is first and foremost to their victims but it extends far beyond them, to their families and friends, as well as to the church and wider society.”

He also apologised for the “slow, unsympathetic or uncaring” response to the review, led by former Church of Scotland moderator Andrew McLellan.

Mr Tartaglia added: “We recognise the trauma and pain that victims and survivors of abuse have suffered and we are committed to providing for them both justice and healing.”

According to figures collected by the Catholic Church in Scotland, 61 allegations of abuse were made between 2006 and 2013.

A review of historic cases of alleged abuse is expected to be published later this year.