A former Pope has blamed the Catholic Church’s abuse scandal on the effects of the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

Former Pope Benedict XVI, who was born in Germany, published a rare essay in a Bavarian Catholic journal saying that the clerical abuse crisis was brought about by a general “collapse” in morality. He also said that paedophilia was a result of an absence of God.

The controversial comments have sparked debate among theologians, with some critics accusing him of trying to shift blame away from the Church.

Benedict, who for 23 years headed the Vatican doctrinal office that has been widely criticised for its handling of sexual abuse cases, argues in the essay that the sexual revolution led some to believe that paedophilia and pornography were acceptable.

He wrote: “It could be said that in the 20 years from 1960 to 1980, the previously normative standards regarding sexuality collapsed entirely, and a new normalcy arose that has by now been the subject of laborious attempts at disruption.”