The Kirk could help reduce the number of victims of abuse by offering sex offenders a role in congregations, the chief inspector of prisons in Scotland told church leaders yesterday.

The Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan, a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, told the annual meeting of Kirk commissioners that paedophiles are the worst prepared of all prisoners as they leave incarceration.

He told commissioners that helping such offenders return to the community, while also protecting people potentially at risk, is their duty.

Mr McLellan made the call as the Church spoke out after its prison chaplains were accused of acting as "agents for sex offenders" by attempting to aid their safe return to the community.

The Kirk made a furious attack on a tabloid newspaper after it claimed prison chaplains would "enlist paedophiles and abusers".

It came after a joint report from the Kirk's safeguarding and forgiveness and proportionality committees which seeks ways to help reform sex offenders once they leave prison.

Mr McLellan said: "I want the General Assembly to see any engagement with sex offenders not merely as a protection of the children of congregations but also as a contribution to public safety.Sex offenders get the worst preparation for release of any offenders in Scotland's prisons, despite the fact that they are those who the public would want to have the best preparation.

"Any small engagement which congregations can make, recognising the paramount responsibility for those children, to draw sex offenders into normal society and help them towards normal life is a significant and Christian responsibility to public safety and to reducing the number of victims.

"If in saying that, the Church of Scotland and the convener is attacked in scurrilous red-top newspapers then we should be proud of that."

Bill Taylor, the Church's Chaplaincy Advisor to the Scottish Prison Service, wrote in response to the newspaper report: "The suggestion that prison chaplains act as agents to enable sex offenders to continue their behaviour in the community is offensive in itself. Chaplains give tirelessly of their time to all prisoners, their families, prison staff, and all who are affected by crime."

Rev Peter Neilson, of the Ministries Council, who read an emotional message on behalf of an abused person, said there was disappointment that it was not recognised that abusers could be - and have been - ministers of the Kirk.

The victim, who was abused by a now-deceased minister, agreed it was better to reform in a supportive environment.

It was later included in the documents that it was recognised ministers could be sex offenders.

Earlier this month Neil Campbell, a 46-year-old married church elder from Glasgow, was among eight men who were convicted for their part in a paedophile ring. Campbell was convicted of possessing, making and distributing indecent images.

In 2003 a minister was suspended from the Kirk without limit of time for attempting to sexually assault a teenager in a hotel lavatory. Ian Andrew, then of St Andrews High Church in Musselburgh, was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and ordered to pay £200 compensation to the 14-year-old boy he admitted attempting to sexually assault.

Rev John Christie, convener of the joint working group on forgiveness and proportionality, said: "Covenants of Responsibilities will be drawn up to ensure that the particular circumstances of each sex offender are recognised and that the appropriate oversight and support are offered in congregations."