The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has espoused the country's Christian roots to the Scottish Parliament during a three-day visit this week.

Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien said that Scotland was still underpinned by Christian values during his Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

"Scottish society may no longer be as homogeneous as it once was - and our new diversity and multi-ethnic character is something to be celebrated - but it remains the case that a bedrock of belief still underpins our society. Those beliefs are Christian beliefs."

Cardinal O'Brien expressed alarm at the drop in recent decades in affiliation to and participation in the lives of Christian churches.

Attendance rates dropped 18 per cent between 1980 and 1990 and fell a further 19 per cent between 1990 and 2001.

"This fall in the number who actively worship is a matter of some sadness to me and to my fellow Christians," he said.

He stressed, however, that the change in lifestyles in Scotland did not mean that the country had abandoned its Christian values.

"In an age when social mores have changed so radically, however, it is perhaps not surprising. Our 24/7 economy leaves people with many Sunday alternatives to church.

"A reduction in active observance however should not be confused with a rejection of Christian beliefs and values."

He added" "I would suggest that Scotland is Christian to its very bones."

Cardinal O'Brien also met with the four main party leaders: Jack McConnell of the Labour Party; Nicola Sturgeon of the SNPs; Annabelle Goldie, leader of the Conservatives; Nicol Stephen, leader of the Lib Dems.

He said that the massive drop in turn-out to general elections in Scotland by almost 40 per cent between 1979 and 2003 did not mean that the country had stopped believing in democracy.

"Though a new generation may not esteem the prize of universal suffrage in the same way their parents or grandparents did - they still know, deep down, that representative democracy is a very good thing - which if threatened they would rush to defend."

Cardinal O'Brien concludes his three-day visit Thursday.