The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

27th February 2026

27 February 2026

Choosing Compassion, Not Assisted Suicide - A Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Scotland

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Scotland stands at a moment of profound moral consequence. In the coming weeks, the Scottish Parliament will cast its final vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill; legislation that would, for the first time in our nation’s history, permit physician-assisted suicide. As your shepherds, entrusted with the care of souls and the protection of human dignity, we write to you with deep concern.

True compassion is not found in hastening death but in walking with those who suffer, ensuring they receive the medical, emotional, and spiritual care that affirms their inherent worth. Every person—regardless of age, illness, disability, or circumstance—is a gift from God. There is no such thing as a life without value. Our task as a society is not to eliminate suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to surround every individual with love, support, and dignity until their natural end.

Over recent months, several Members of the Scottish Parliament who once supported the proposal have now either withdrawn, or are seriously considering withdrawing, their backing, recognising that the risks embedded within it are too grave to ignore. Their change of heart reflects a dawning awareness that coercion, especially the subtle, hidden coercion experienced by the most vulnerable, including the elderly, the sick, the disabled and those living with domestic abuse, cannot be reliably detected, let alone prevented.

Key protections that should form the very foundation of such legislation, however flawed the principle may be, have been removed or rejected. Proposals for mandatory training for doctors to recognise coercive control were voted down by the Parliament Health and Social Care Committee. Measures ensuring that patients are offered proper palliative and social care before considering assisted suicide were dismissed. An opt-out for hospices and care homes who object to assisted suicide was also rejected. Even the conscience rights of healthcare workers remain uncertain. As a result, MSPs are being asked to vote on a Bill that is incomplete and reliant on future intervention from Westminster—an arrangement that several parliamentarians have already described as unworkable and irresponsible.

Experience from abroad also offers a sober warning. In countries where assisted suicide has been introduced, narrow criteria have widened over time, placing ever more people at risk—not because of unbearable physical suffering, but because they feel abandoned, isolated, or burdensome. We must not allow such a trajectory to take root here in Scotland.

We therefore urge you, the Catholic faithful of Scotland, to act. Please contact your MSPs and respectfully ask them to oppose this legislation. Make your voice heard in defence of those who may not be able to speak for themselves. Resources to assist you—including Care Not Killing’s online email tool—are available and we invite you to use them prayerfully and thoughtfully.

Let us also hold in prayer all those approaching the end of life, all who care for them, and all charged with shaping the laws of our land. May the Holy Spirit grant our nation the wisdom to choose the path of life, compassion, and genuine human solidarity.

Yours devotedly in Christ,
+ John Keenan, President, Bishop of Paisley
+ Brian McGee, Vice-President, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
+ Andrew McKenzie, Episcopal Secretary, Bishop of Dunkeld
+ Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
+ William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow
+ Joseph Toal, Bishop of Motherwell
+ Hugh Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen
+ Francis Dougan, Bishop of Galloway

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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Click here to visit the Jubilee 2025 website

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

February 2026

22Feb

Gospel

22 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus fasts for forty days and is tempted.

At that time: Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the Temple and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” ’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” ’ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

21Feb

Gospel

21 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Luke 5:27-32
‘I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

At that time: Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

20Feb

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has been exploring the possibility of bringing together our various agencies and commissions...

20 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has been exploring the possibility of bringing together our various agencies and commissions under one roof. The former Martyrs’ School building in Glasgow was identified as a potential solution, and so a project team was charged with outlining viability and costs.

Following the meeting of the Bishops’ Conference in January, the Bishops agreed not to move forward with the Martyrs’ project. The local authority and other stakeholders have been informed.

The decision was ultimately taken on the basis that the costs required to make the building fit for purpose were considered too high.

The Bishops’ Conference is now reviewing options within its existing estate.

20Feb

Today, the first Friday of Lent, is dedicated across Scotland to remembering and praying for survivors of abuse

20 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today, the first Friday of Lent, is dedicated across Scotland to remembering and praying for survivors of abuse.

We do not always know who they are when we gather as a community to pray. Some no longer feel able to come into church with us, and their absence is deeply felt. Abuse within the Church, whether carried out by clergy, religious or lay members, was a betrayal of the sanctuary the Church is called to be. Its effects continue to ripple through families and communities. These are not easy realities to face, yet it is a sacred duty and an act of justice to acknowledge the harm that has been done and to pray humbly for healing, reconciliation and the rebuilding of trust.

May our communities always be a true sanctuary for those who are vulnerable, in danger or in distress.

20Feb

Gospel

20 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 9:14-15
‘When the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast.’

At that time: The disciples of John came to Jesus, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.’

19Feb

A national gathering

19 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

A national gathering. A moment of renewal. A day led by the Spirit.

Join others from across Scotland at Glasgow Caledonian University on Saturday, 6th June, for a powerful and hope-filled Festival of Synodality.

This is more than a conference. It is an opportunity to experience Conversation in the Spirit firsthand and discover a practical and prayerful way of discerning God’s will together for the future of the Church.

The day will celebrate the fruits already flourishing in the Scottish Church and feature inspiring witnesses to the Synod:
✨ Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Down and Connor
✨ Fr David McCallum SJ
✨ Sandra Chaoul

Expect prayer. Inspiration. Real conversation. Time to connect with others from parishes, schools, dioceses and faith organisations across the country.
Lunch is included on the day.

Whether involved in parish life, diocesan leadership, education, ministry or simply seeking to grow deeper in mission, this day is for you.

Tickets £65: http://bit.ly/synodality26

19Feb

Gospel

19 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Luke 9:22-25
‘Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’
And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?’

18Feb

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

18 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Fortunately, most of us don’t have to climb a hill to brush our teeth in the morning. But that’s exactly what Bishop Brian McGee did to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water.

Bishop Brian is SCIAF’s Bishop President and cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.

Bishop Brian said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?

“This year our WEE BOX Appeal focusses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.

“Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce. In Ethiopia far too many women, girls and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.

“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.”

Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.

Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict and the climate emergency.

Bishop Brian added: “I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people's lives.

“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”

This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox. To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.

18Feb

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

18 Feb, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Discipline, Charity, Humility: Archbishop’s Message to MSPs on Ash Wednesday

Archbishop Cushley led the annual Ash Wednesday service at the Scottish Parliament earlier today.

The annual gathering is an opportunity for MSPs and parliament staff to pray together, listen to scripture and receive ashes.

Archbishop Cushley told those gathered: “Lent is a wonderful opportunity to look at ourselves as honestly as we can and to say we’re sorry for our sins.

“We can do it in three simple ways – through discipline towards ourselves, charity towards others and humility before almighty God.

“With those three things you are going to have a good Lent. It’s an opportunity to challenge ourselves to grow, and with God’s grace we will rediscover how good it is to have those three things in place: discipline, charity and humility.”

MSPs attending the service included Marie McNair, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Mairi Gougeon, Paul O’Kane, Alex Rowley, Michael Marra, Pauline McNeill and Mark Griffin.

Archbishop Cushley thanked Clare Adamson MSP for sponsoring the event.

Anthony Horan, Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, said: “The distribution of ashes in Holyrood has become a regular feature on the parliamentary calendar and I am delighted that so many MSPs and staff continue to support it. Being an elected representative is a really tough, demanding job and I hope that the Ash Wednesday service, and the annual Mass before summer recess, give MSPs spiritual support and strength.”

18Feb

To believe in Him and to be His disciples means allowing ourselves to be changed and to take on His same feelings

18 Feb, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

To believe in Him and to be His disciples means allowing ourselves to be changed and to take on His same feelings

#MissiosWednesdayWisdom

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