BELGRADE, Serbia

Catholic officials in Croatia on Tuesday sacked a priest after he reportedly confessed to sexually abusing 13 children.

Catholic Archbishop Mate Uzinic said in a statement that a priest identified as M.S. confessed to sexually abusing 13 boys aged 6 to 13 in the coastal city of Rijeka.

According to Uzinic, M.S. taught at the Theology School in Rijeka and had been accused of sexual abuse before.

"He confessed his crime. His church duties were terminated. He was forbidden to teach at the faculty,'' said Uzinic.

M.S admitted to being involved in numerous abuses from 1987 to 1994, he said, adding: "He has no ties to the church in Rijeka.”

Printed in the local media, M.S.' reported confession letter said: "I asked our Holy Father to release me from my duty because of the sins I committed in my youth. The sins I committed did not suit my duty.

“I do not blame others for my sins. I am responsible for everything. I am also very sorry for the children I have hurt. I want them to forgive me and have God heal the wounds I have inflicted. There's nothing left but to wish."

Local media claimed that there were similar incidents of abuse in Catholic churches in the coastal cities of Split and Zadar.