• oban1
  • edinburgh1
  • ayr1
  • edinburgh2
  • glasgow1
  • ayr2
  • Slider1
  • paisley1
  • Slider1
  • fortrose1

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

17th February 2026


17 February 2026

SCES supports the Bill’s stated aim of ensuring compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and welcomes efforts to strengthen children’s rights in Scottish law. In particular, SCES supports proposed amendments which introduce clearer age-related guidance on maturity and decision-making, helping to determine when a young person can make an informed decision about Religious Education or Religious Observance.

However, SCES has raised serious concerns that a number of other amendments extend the Bill beyond its original purpose and could have unintended consequences for Scotland’s denominational schools. SCES warns that proposals to replace the long-standing legal term “Religious Instruction” with “Religious Education” could narrow interpretation towards a purely academic curriculum model, potentially limiting the ability of denominational schools to deliver faith-based education consistent with their protected religious ethos.

SCES has also expressed concern about proposals that would allow young people to withdraw independently from Religious Observance, without the same level of parental involvement currently required. While such changes are often justified by reference to Article 14 of the UNCRC, SCES notes that Article 14 must be read in full, as it also affirms the rights and duties of parents to guide children in matters of religion, in accordance with the child’s evolving capacities.

While welcoming the opportunity to contribute to statutory guidance, SCES has highlighted major concerns regarding proposed new reporting and information requirements. SCES believes these measures would impose disproportionate administrative burdens on schools and local authorities, duplicate existing inspection arrangements, and introduce unclear criteria requiring Religious Observance to be assessed as “objective, critical and pluralistic” and “inclusive”, without clear definitions or clarity on who would judge compliance.

SCES welcomes proposals intended to safeguard the existing legal protections of denominational schools, and stresses that Scotland’s denominational education system has long held a legitimate and protected place within the wider educational framework.

SCES urges Parliament to ensure that UNCRC compliance is achieved in a way that respects children’s rights, the role of parents and families, and the distinctive character and legal status of denominational schools in Scotland. SCES is grateful for the constructive communication with the Scottish Government throughout this process, and welcomes the opportunity to work collaboratively on the development of future statutory guidance.

ENDS

Contact:
Media Office

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

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.

Being Catholic TV

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. 

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn
October 2025



Pope Leo has signed his second papal document since his election, an apostolic letter titled “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Gravissimum Educationis, the Declaration on Catholic Education. The letter acknowledges that we live in a complex, fragmented, and digitalized educational environment, and highlights the urgent need to renew the Church's commitment to promoting and providing a Christian, integral education. The Holy Father also designated St. John Henry Newman as the official co-patron saint of education, together with St. Thomas Aquinas. As millions of children still lack access to basic education, and as educational crises are caused by war, migration, inequality, and poverty, this work is more essential than ever:
https://youtu.be/rGuCvLFyOpw
Read More
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-10/hope-story-ukraine-women-mother-children-fathers-soldiers-war.html


Olena Mosendz, a young Ukrainian mother whose husband is fighting at the front, tells Vatican News what life is like for the many women trying to ...
Read More



Today we had the great joy of celebrating the 100th birthday of our dear Mother Mary of the Resurrection. His Grace Archbishop Leo Cushley celebrated Mass in our chapel, and stayed and talked with us afterwards, which we enjoyed very much. In the afternoon, we gave Mother some gifts, chief of which was an apostolic blessing from His Holiness Pope Leo. Tomorrow we will put more photos and information on our website, as there hasn't been time today. It has been quite busy, but Mother seems to have thrived on it! We thank God for her spirit of prayer, her fidelity to her vocation, and her unfailing cheerfulness.
Read More



The Candlelight Procession takes place tomorrow (Thur 30 Oct) in Glasgow.

It commemorates all those lost to abortion since the 1967 Abortion Act and is a time to reflect, pray, and honour every one of those innocent lives.
Read More
The Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh runs an online Diploma in Catechetics each year which is open to people across Scotland.

Registration and details at bit.ly/diploma2026


Register now for the Diploma in Catechetics 2026 at bit.ly/diploma2026

Feedback from the 2025 course:

▪ "Each speaker was excellent."
Sandy C, Burntisland

▪ "Deepened my knowledge of the Catechism and helped to grow my personal faith."
- Marianne S, Falkirk

▪ "Deepened my understanding of the faith in such an accessible format."
- Marco P, Aberdeen
Read More
Simon is eleventh in the list of the twelve Apostles. He is known as Simon the Zealot, but nothing else is known about him. His other name of “Simon Cananaeus” simply adapts another Hebrew word for “zeal” and has nothing to do with the town Cana.
________
St Jude, Apostle
Jude, also called Thaddaeus, is the apostle who at the Last Supper asked the Lord why he showed himself only to the disciples and not to the world. For many centuries he was scarcely venerated because people confused him with Judas Iscariot. He is the patron saint of lost and desperate causes.


________

Collect

O God, who by the blessed Apostles
have brought us to acknowledge your name,
graciously grant,
through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude,
that the Church may constantly grow
by increase of the peoples who believe in you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever Amen

Read More



A new report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) covering the period between August 10 and October 26 has revealed that in just the 76 days, over 100 Christians in Nigeria were killed, and 120 others kidnapped by jihadist groups.

The report that Intersociety Founder and Leader, Emeka Umeagbalasi, shared with ACI Africa on Sunday, October 26 raises an alarm about “continuation, intensification, unchecked, untamed, widespread, coordinated and systematic attacks by Islamic Jihadists and their enablers, aiders and abettors against defenseless Christians in Nigeria.”

Of the 120 Christians abducted, at least 12 “are likely not coming back alive from the hands of their jihadist captors,” reads the Intersociety report in part.

Researchers at Intersociety base their assumption that a percentage of those abducted may never come back alive on an existing trend by the jihadists to kill their captives.

“A clear case in point is the over 1,000 abducted Christian hostages held inside Rijana Forest camps in Kaduna State, out of which estimated 120 or more than 10 percent are likely to have been killed in captivity,” the researchers say.

Findings by Intersociety also show that out of the 100 defenseless Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani militants “hiding under Fulani herdsmen’” accounted for an estimated 80 deaths while Jihadist Boko Haram insurgents killed the other 20 Christian deaths.

Intersociety reports that on October 14, some 13 Christians from Rochas village in Nigeria’s Plateau State were massacred by Jihadist Fulani militants, during which scores were injured and abducted.

The slain 13 defenseless Christians included children and eight adults. Those killed in the attack are identified as Solomon Dung Choji (43), Sunday Gyang Chollom (29), Davou Mallam Chollom (24), Kefas Dung Sambo (29), Chollom Danjuma Chollom (37), Christina Davou Chollom (27), Marvelous Chollom (8), Japhet Solomon (14), Ntyang Chollom Danjuma (6), Mary Monday (10), Mancha Monday (12), Solomon Chung (40) and Musa Dung Bot (32).

It further reports that on October 10, no fewer than nine Christians were killed and eight others critically wounded by Jihadist Fulani militants in Kachia part of Southern Kaduna.

Intersociety further refers to a September 2 report that “no fewer than eight Christians were killed by Boko Haram jihadists on August 30” in Borno State, and three others “in another area”.

The researchers further refer to Truth-Nigeria’s report of October 22 that reports the October 20 killing of five Christians by Boko Haram in Kwakwahu village of Madagali in Adamawa State during an attack in which four other Christians were abducted.

According to Sahara Reporters, no fewer than 12 persons, all of them Christians, including a medical doctor and some patients were abducted by Fulani Jihadists on October 21 in Southern Kaduna.

“There was also another attack in Gidan Busa village in Kachia county, during which three Christians were abducted and herded into Jihadist forests,” Intersociety has reported.

Leaders of the Kwara State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who spoke to Intersociety on October 25 also reported about “numerous” Christians having been killed, abducted or displaced in recent months since August by Fulani Bandits.

The bandits, Intersociety was told, are invading Yoruba parts of Kwara, Kogi and Nasarawa States from different fronts, during which several churches have also been sacked or destroyed especially in places like Ifelodun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Kiama, Isin, Oke Ero, Pategi, Edu and Baruten.

The Kwara CAN leaders also lamented over marginalization and deprivation of access to political office and representation.

Intersociety also refers to an October 24 report by Truth-Nigeria, that shows that in addition to more than 800 Christians held by Fulani Jihadists inside Rijana forest camps in Southern Kaduna, not less than 24 more Christians were abducted on September 20.

The researchers at Intersociety say that out of more than 1,000 Christian hostages abducted and held by Fulani Jihadists from December 2024 to October 2025, an estimated 200 have been ransomed and freed and more than 800 others remain in captivity.

“It is also our estimation that 120 have died in captivity since February 2025 and no fewer than ten of the Christian hostages killed in captivity in the past 76 days or since August 10,” the intersociety report reads.

Full story: https://ow.ly/zW3z50XiQ9F
Read More
Page 28 of 187 [28]