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

3rd September 2026

3 September 2026

Scotland Must Stand with Both Mother and Child

I note with concern the Scottish Government’s response to a recent parliamentary question on abortion law and access to later-stage abortion services. While the Government has indicated that it has no immediate plans to reform abortion law in 2026–27, it has also reaffirmed its intention to consult on the recommendations of the abortion law review advisory group and to establish a nationally commissioned later-stage abortion service in Scotland.

The advisory group, which excluded prolife voices and which adopted a principle of “non-regression” on abortion provision, lacks both legitimacy and credibility. It has made radical recommendations to the Scottish Government which, if implemented, would effectively permit abortion up to birth for any reason and remove the current requirement for two doctors to approve abortions up to 24 weeks. It is astonishing that the report also recommends that future legislation should make no reference to sex-selective abortion, paving the way for unborn babies to be aborted simply because they are deemed to be the wrong sex.

I recognise the real fear, pressure and hardship that can accompany an unexpected or crisis pregnancy. Women in such circumstances deserve compassion, practical assistance, emotional support and the assurance that neither they nor their children will be abandoned. A truly caring society must respond to vulnerability by offering hope and help, not by making abortion more readily available at later stages of pregnancy.

The establishment of later-stage abortion provision in Scotland, alongside proposals to weaken existing legal safeguards, raises grave moral and social questions. Every unborn child is a unique human life deserving of protection, and every mother should be supported in ways that uphold her dignity and the dignity of her child. I therefore make a direct appeal to all elected representatives who recognise the inherent dignity of every human life, to reject any further liberalisation of abortion provisions in Scotland and to oppose measures that would remove essential safeguards or further weaken protection for unborn children.

I urge the Scottish Government and all MSPs to prioritise policies that expand support for women and families, reduce the pressures that lead to abortion, and foster a culture in which every life is welcomed and protected from conception to natural death. Scotland should aspire to be a nation where compassion means standing with both mother and child.

Bishop John Keenan,

President of the National Office for Marriage, Family and Life, Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

...ENDS

Notes for editors

Photo of Bishop John Keenan: Photo of Bishop John Keenan

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCoS) is the assembly of the Catholic bishops of Scotland, working together on national pastoral, social and legislative matters on behalf of the Church. www.bcos.org.uk
For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office, Email: [email protected]

Contact:

Media Office

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

21st August 2026

21 August 2026

Final appeal to Catholics ahead of Westminster assisted suicide vote

Bishop John Keenan has issued a pastoral letter urging Catholics across Scotland to contact their MPs ahead of the return of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the House of Commons on Friday 11 September.

The Bill, reintroduced by Lauren Edwards MP, would permit eligible terminally ill adults in England and Wales to receive assistance to end their lives. A similar Bill was defeated in the Scottish Parliament last March.

Although this new legislation would apply only to England and Wales, Bishop Keenan stresses that this remains an important moment for Catholics in Scotland. The outcome at Westminster could have significant consequences north of the border and potentially reignite attempts to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland.

In his letter, Bishop Keenan describes the coming vote as a “grave moment for the protection of human life” and urges Catholics to contact their MPs “without delay” and ask them to oppose the Bill.

Bishop Keenan said:

“Our opposition to assisted suicide is rooted in compassion. Every person, from conception until natural death, possesses an inviolable dignity as one made in the image and likeness of God.”

Warning particularly of the potential consequences for vulnerable people, he added:

“Illness, frailty, disability, dependence or fear must never lead society to conclude that some lives are no longer worth living.”

The Bishop calls instead for greater investment in palliative and hospice care and better support for carers, insisting that “the proper response to suffering is care, presence, skilled palliative medicine and practical support—not the deliberate ending of life.”

Scotland’s Catholic bishops encourage all who stand on the side of life to contact their MP today and without delay, asking them to protect vulnerable people, support better palliative and hospice care, and vote against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

...ENDS

Notes to Editor

Photo of the Bishop John Keenan: https://www.bcos.org.uk/portals/0/@publications/photos/bishop%20john%20keenan.gif

Pastoral Letter from Bishop Keenan: https://www.bcos.org.uk/portals/0/@publications/letters/Pastoral Letter - Assisted Suicide Westminster - August 2026.pdf

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCoS) is the assembly of the Catholic bishops of Scotland, working together on national pastoral, social and legislative matters on behalf of the Church. Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office. Email: [email protected]

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

July 2026

15Jul

Though not as widely known today as some of the great saints of the Church, Saint Bonaventure was one of the most influential th...

15 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Though not as widely known today as some of the great saints of the Church, Saint Bonaventure was one of the most influential theologians and spiritual leaders of the medieval period. A distinguished scholar at the University of Paris, he was admired not only for his intellectual brilliance but also for his deep Franciscan spirituality. Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure placed Christ at the centre of everything he did—his teaching, writing, leadership, and prayer. His profound wisdom and holiness earned him the title *“Seraphic Doctor”* of the Church.

Born in Bagnoregio, Italy, in 1221, he was baptised John. At the age of 22, he joined the Franciscan Order and took the name Bonaventure. His parents, Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritella, provided him with a comfortable upbringing, and tradition holds that he was miraculously healed from a serious childhood illness through the intercession of Saint Francis.

A gifted spiritual writer, Bonaventure combined practical leadership with deep theological insight. Drawing on the example of Saint Francis, he developed a spirituality rooted in love of Christ, contemplation, and faithful service to the Church. His writings continue to be valued for their warmth, clarity, and ability to unite intellectual understanding with heartfelt devotion.

In 1273, Pope Gregory X appointed him Cardinal and Bishop of Albano. The following year, while taking part in the Second Council of Lyon, Saint Bonaventure died unexpectedly on 15 July 1274. Although some later theories suggested he may have been poisoned, no conclusive evidence exists. He is remembered as a great teacher, theologian, and saint whose life reflected both profound learning and deep holiness.

15Jul

Gospel

15 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 11:25-27
‘You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children.’

At that time Jesus declared, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

14Jul

Gospel

14 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 11:20-24
‘It will be more tolerable on the day of judgement for Tyre and Sidon and the land of Sodom than for you.’

At that time: Jesus began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgement for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the land of Sodom than for you.’

13Jul

Lord God, we ask for the grace of your Holy Spirit with faith that help is gladly given

13 Jul, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Lord God, we ask for the grace of your Holy Spirit with faith that help is gladly given

#MissiosMondayPrayer

@followers

13Jul

Gospel

13 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 10:34-11:1
‘I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.’

At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Whoever receives you, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.’
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

12Jul

Gospel

12 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 13:1-9
‘A sower went out to sow.’

At that time: Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.’

11Jul

Your support for Missio Scotland, and our PMS partners, will help refugees from Myanmar living in Thailand, to be provided with ...

11 Jul, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Your support for Missio Scotland, and our PMS partners, will help refugees from Myanmar living in Thailand, to be provided with love and care

#MissiosFridayFacts

@followers

11Jul

Although no contemporary biography of Saint Benedict survives, his influence on Western monasticism is immeasurable

11 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Although no contemporary biography of Saint Benedict survives, his influence on Western monasticism is immeasurable. Much of what we know about him comes from the *Dialogues* of Saint Gregory the Great, which focus more on the miraculous events of his life than on providing a detailed historical account.

Born into a noble family in central Italy, Benedict was sent to Rome for his education. However, disillusioned by the moral decline and turmoil of the age—marked by war, division within the Church, and social unrest—he felt called to a life devoted to God.

Seeking solitude, Benedict first embraced the life of a hermit, spending three years in a cave in the mountains. Yet he soon recognised that his vocation extended beyond a life of isolation. After a period leading a community of monks, he began to develop a vision of monastic life centred on prayer, fraternity, and stability within a shared community.

This vision led him to establish the monastery of Monte Cassino, situated on a prominent hill overlooking the valleys south of Rome and north of Naples. It would become one of the most influential centres of Christian monasticism in history.

Over time, Benedict composed the *Rule of Saint Benedict*, a guide for monastic living that balanced prayer, study, work, and community life under the leadership of an abbot. Known for its wisdom and moderation, the Rule fostered both spiritual growth and practical service, encouraging monks to care for those living around their monasteries.

During the Middle Ages, the Rule of Saint Benedict became the foundation for most Western monastic communities. Today, Benedict’s legacy continues through the Benedictine family, including the Benedictine Confederation of monks and nuns, as well as the Cistercians and Trappists, who follow the Benedictine tradition with a particular emphasis on simplicity and contemplation.

11Jul

Gospel

11 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 19:27-29
‘You who have followed me will receive a hundredfold.’

At that time: Peter said to Jesus, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What, then, will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal

10Jul

Gospel

10 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 10:16-23
‘It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father.’

At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: ‘Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’