A Vatican spokesman has accused the United Nations watchdog for children's rights of '"intervening" in doctrinal practice.

A report by the group denounced the Holy See for adopting policies which allowed priests to sexually abuse thousands of children. It also criticised Vatican attitudes towards homosexuality, contraception and abortion.

Father Thomas Rosica, of the Holy See press office, told BBC Newsnight that the Catholic Church accepted it had a problem with child abuse and that "crimes had been committed", but said the committee had "gone over the top in asserting themselves in areas over which they have no competence whatsoever".