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

July 2026

23Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
John 15:1-8
‘Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch, and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.’

22Jul

The deeds you do may be the only sermon some people will hear today

22 Jul, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The deeds you do may be the only sermon some people will hear today

#MissiosWednesdayWisdom

@followers

22Jul

Apart from the Blessed Virgin Mary, few women hold such an honoured place in the Gospels as Saint Mary Magdalene

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

Apart from the Blessed Virgin Mary, few women hold such an honoured place in the Gospels as Saint Mary Magdalene. Despite this, she has often been misunderstood. For centuries, a tradition developed identifying her with the unnamed sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus. However, modern biblical scholarship recognises that there is no clear scriptural evidence linking the two figures.

Mary Magdalene, whose name indicates that she came from Magdala, is introduced in the Gospel as a woman from whom Jesus cast out “seven demons” (Luke 8:2). Rather than suggesting a sinful past, this expression is generally understood to refer to severe suffering, illness, or spiritual affliction from which she was healed through Christ’s compassion and power.

Following this encounter, Mary became one of Jesus’ most devoted disciples. The Gospels describe her as one of the women who supported Jesus and the Apostles through their own resources and accompanied them throughout His ministry. Her gratitude and faithfulness remained steadfast even during the darkest moments of Christ’s Passion.

Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the Cross when many others had fled. She witnessed the Lord’s crucifixion, burial, and, most significantly, became the first person to encounter the risen Christ on Easter morning. Entrusted with the news of the Resurrection, she was sent by Jesus to announce it to the Apostles.

Because of this unique mission, Mary Magdalene has been given the title “Apostle to the Apostles.” Her life is a powerful witness to the transforming mercy of Christ, faithful discipleship, and the hope of the Resurrection. Through her example, the Church honours a woman whose unwavering love and loyalty placed her at the heart of the Gospel story.

22Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
John 20:1-2, 11-18
‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ Having said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’ — and that he had said these things to her.

21Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
Matthew 12:46-50
‘Stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers and sisters!” ’

At that time: While Jesus was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers and sisters stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers and sisters?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers and sisters! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’

20Jul

Lord Jesus, may we always seek more strongly to believe

20 Jul, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Lord Jesus, may we always seek more strongly to believe

#MissiosMondayPrayer

@followers

19Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
Matthew 13:24-30
‘Let both grow together until the harvest.’

At that time: Jesus put another parable before the crowd, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” So the servants said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he said, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ” ’

18Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
Matthew 12:14-21
‘He ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet.’

At that time: The Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.’

17Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
Matthew 12:1-8
‘The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.’

At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.’ He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here. And if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice”, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.’

16Jul

If God is at the centre of your life, no words are necessary, your mere presence will touch hearts

16 Jul, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

If God is at the centre of your life, no words are necessary, your mere presence will touch hearts

#MissiosWednesdayWisdom

@followers