The Pope must say sorry to child abuse survivors before he visits Scotland, a leading campaigner has demanded.

Benedict XVI earlier this month apologised to those hurt in Catholic children’s homes in Ireland, saying he shared public "outrage and shame" over the scandal.

Now Helen Holland, an abuse survivor and former nun, has written to the pontiff asking him to do the same for those who suffered in Scotland ahead of his September papal visit.

The 51-year-old, a leading figure in several survivors’ groups, accused church authorities in Scotland of continuing to fail to acknowledge the harm done to generations of children.

She told the Pope: "I know you have apologised to other countries where citizens suffered abuse within the church, but in Scotland the attitude of the church to date has been one of denial and indeed blaming the actual survivors of abuse.

Scottish bishops cannot formally answer for the actions or behaviour of individuals and international Catholic Orders.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Edinburgh has apologised "unreservedly" to abuse victims.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Glasgow said: "The Church in Scotland has been at the forefront of child protection practice and has a robust policy in place across every parish and Church institution in the country to prevent the sexual abuse of children, which, as the Pope recently stated, is an abominable crime."

• Full story at Scotland on Sunday.

• Filed under Crime, Papal Visit, Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Christian News Monitor.