British cardinal's sin 'a severe blow' to church

The resignation of Britain's top Catholic cleric over claims of sexual misconduct has dealt the church a "serious blow", his replacement admits.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who resigned last week as the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, admitted on Sunday that his sexual conduct had "fallen below the standards expected of me".

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, who has temporarily taken over O'Brien's role as administrator of the Archdiocese of Edinburgh and St Andrews, on Monday told an evening mass that it was "a sad moment for the church in our country".

"The events around Cardinal O'Brien, his resignation, his statement of yesterday, have left us all very sad for everyone involved and for the church," he said.

"The most stinging charge which has been levelled against us in this matter is hypocrisy - and for obvious reasons.

"I think there is little doubt that the credibility and moral authority of the Catholic Church in Scotland has been dealt a serious blow and we will need to come to terms with that."