The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

30th July 2026

30 July 2026

Bishop Welcomes Prime Minister’s Call to Prioritise Care Reforms Before Westminster Assisted Suicide Vote

Bishop John Keenan, the Bishop with responsibility for Marriage, Family and Life for the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s call for the serious gaps in palliative and social care to be addressed before the Westminster Parliament considers assisted suicide legislation.

Bishop Keenan said:

“The Prime Minister’s intervention is both timely and welcome. We have a duty to ensure that every person approaching the end of life has access to the compassionate palliative and social care they deserve. No one should ever feel driven towards assisted suicide because they lack the care, support or dignity they need.

“We were grateful that the Scottish Parliament resolutely rejected assisted suicide only recently. We hope this latest intervention will encourage Members of the Westminster Parliament to reflect carefully before taking a step that would fundamentally change the way our society cares for the sick and vulnerable.

“As our Catholic Parliamentary Officer, Anthony Horan, has rightly said: ‘The last thing the country needs is another divisive debate about assisted suicide. We need to make progress in improving palliative and social care, not offering vulnerable people state support to end their lives.’ I share that conviction wholeheartedly.

“This is an opportunity to rethink the whole approach to assisted suicide. The compassionate response to suffering is never to help people end their lives, but to ensure they receive the high-quality care, love and accompaniment they need. Let us pray for all who are seriously ill, for their families and carers, and for those in public office, that they may always uphold the dignity of every human life and work to build a society that truly cares for its most vulnerable members.”

Bishop John Keenan

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn

June 2026

04Jun

Football is a universal pursuit that brings joy and happiness to millions of people throughout the world

04 Jun, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Football is a universal pursuit that brings joy and happiness to millions of people throughout the world. In many ways, it mirrors the joy and happiness that the universal Church brings to people across the continents through our beloved faith and that's something to celebrate!

04Jun

Gospel

04 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Mark 12:28b-34
‘You shall love the Lord your God. You shall love your neighbour.’

At that time: One of the scribes came up to Jesus and asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

03Jun

What holds a life together?

03 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

What holds a life together?

In tonight’s video, Bishop Hugh Gilbert reflects on the meaning behind his episcopal motto: “In him all things hold together.”

Taken from St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, Bishop Hugh shares how these words have shaped his understanding of faith, reminding us that amid the complexity of life, it is Christ who brings unity, purpose and meaning.

Reflecting on our relationships, activities and responsibilities, Bishop Hugh explains why Christ remains the centre around which everything finds its proper place.

Watch now as Bishop Hugh shares the inspiration behind his motto.

03Jun

This week, as part of Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle, the focus is on Religious Education in Roman Catholic Schools (RE...

03 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

This week, as part of Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle, the focus is on Religious Education in Roman Catholic Schools (RERC).

In this short reel, practitioners share their reflections and experiences of the work undertaken so far, highlighting the important role of Religious Education in the life of our schools.

You can learn more about the Curriculum Improvement Cycle by visiting the Education Scotland blog: https://ow.ly/XyxX50WO7gP

#CatholicEducation #RERC #ScottishSchools #EducationScotland #CatholicSchools

03Jun

Gospel

03 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Mark 12:18-27
‘He is not God of the dead, but of the living.’

At that time: Sadducees came to Jesus, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.’
Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.’

02Jun

Where do we encounter God most deeply?

02 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Where do we encounter God most deeply?

In tonight’s video, Archbishop William Nolan reflects on the meaning behind his episcopal motto: “Sibilus Aurae Tenius” translated as “The Sound of Sheer Silence.”

Drawing on the story of the Prophet Elijah on Mount Sinai, Archbishop Nolan reflects on discovering God not in noise, power or spectacle, but in silence.

In a world filled with distraction and constant noise, Archbishop Nolan shares why silence remains essential to prayer, faith and encountering the presence of God.

Watch now as Archbishop Nolan explains the inspiration behind his motto.

02Jun

Where do we encounter God most deeply?

02 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Where do we encounter God most deeply?

In tonight’s video, Archbishop William Nolan reflects on the meaning behind his episcopal motto: “Sibilus Aurae Tenuis", translated as “The Sound of Sheer Silence.”

Drawing on the story of the Prophet Elijah on Mount Sinai, Archbishop Nolan reflects on discovering God not in noise, power or spectacle, but in silence.

In a world filled with distraction and constant noise, Archbishop Nolan shares why silence remains essential to prayer, faith and encountering the presence of God.

Watch now as Archbishop Nolan explains the inspiration behind his motto.

02Jun

Today’s Time for Reflection at the Scottish Parliament was led by Archbishop Leo Cushley, who spoke about the importance not onl...

02 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today’s Time for Reflection at the Scottish Parliament was led by Archbishop Leo Cushley, who spoke about the importance not only of speaking, but of truly listening.

Archbishop Cushley reflected on how easy it can be for voices to be heard, but not truly listened to. He encouraged members of the new Parliament to develop “the art of listening” in the search for the common good.

“Let the Best Idea win — and let’s be listening out for it.”

Please keep all Members of the Scottish Parliament in your prayers as they begin this new parliamentary term and the important work ahead.

02Jun

In his monthly reflection, Missio Scotland's National Director, Fr Vincent Lockhart, speaks to us from the Assembly of National ...

02 Jun, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

In his monthly reflection, Missio Scotland's National Director, Fr Vincent Lockhart, speaks to us from the Assembly of National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome about the importance of the global family that we have in the Church. He even gets some of that global family to wish Scotland well at the upcoming World Cup!

#NDsMonthlyReflection

@followers

01Jun

The words a bishop chooses for his motto often reflect the values, hopes and faith that shape his ministry

01 Jun, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The words a bishop chooses for his motto often reflect the values, hopes and faith that shape his ministry.

In tonight’s video, Archbishop Leo Cushley reflects on the meaning behind his episcopal motto: “Amor quod praecipis” — “To love what you command.”

Drawn from the liturgy, Archbishop Cushley explains how the phrase became an aspiration for his ministry: to willingly embrace the Lord’s will and to seek to live with faith, hope and charity at the heart of leadership in the Church.

Reflecting on vocation, service and the call to follow God’s will, Archbishop Cushley shares why these words became the guiding thread of his episcopal ministry.