|TOP|The Catholic Church has criticised a police caution against a Celtic goalkeeper for crossing himself during a match against Rangers.

Scottish prosecutors issued a caution for a breach of the peace to Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc after he crossed himself during an Old Firm match at Ibrox in February, the BBC reports.

The Catholic Church and leading politicians have reacted to the caution with alarm that a religious blessing could be treated as a criminal offence.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church told the Scottish Sunday Herald that they are seeking clarification from the Crown Office on “whether or not it deems the sign of the cross to be an offensive action which is the equivalent of gratuitous hand gestures”.

|QUOTE|“This is not simply a Catholic issue but a human rights issue,” said the spokesman. “Freedom of religion is part of the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Crown Office defended its decision to caution Boruc, 26, saying that the decision was based on his general behaviour, which included allegations of gesticulating at and incensing the crowd, rather than for any single act.

On Friday, Catholic Church spokesman Peter Kearney called the decision to caution Boruc a “worrying and alarming development, especially since the sign of the cross is globally accepted as a gesture of religious reverence.

“It is extremely regrettable that Scotland seems to have made itself one of the few countries in the world where this simply religious gesture is considered an offence.”

Leader of the Scottish National Party, Alex Salmond, described the caution as a “ludicrous” decision, warning that the “procurator fiscal and the Crown Office is acting in a way that will inflame rather than reduce religious antagonism”.

Labour MP for Livingston and lifelong Celtic supporter, Jim Devine, joined the chorus of condemnation, calling “it an embarrassment for Scotland which will make us the laughing stock of the world”.