The Catholic church has stirred up controversy by indicating that it will oppose a Scottish law banning parents from smacking their children.

The country is set to be the first part of the UK to outlaw the physical punishment of children after the Scottish government confirmed that a member’s bill lodged by John Finnie, the Green MSP, will become law.

Anthony Horan, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “A bill which would criminalise parents for chastising their children appears to have little public support.

“It is not the role of the state to interfere in how parents go about building a strong relationship with their children, except in the most exceptional circumstances.” Mr Horan cited a…