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

7th October 2026

7 October 2026

Catholic Parliamentary Office Welcomes SNP Decision to Withdraw Abortion Motion

The Catholic Parliamentary Office welcomes the decision of the Scottish National Party to remove from its conference agenda a proposed motion that would have sought to decriminalise self-administered abortion and significantly weaken legal protections for unborn children.

Last month, in response to reports of the motion, the Catholic Parliamentary Office expressed its concern that SNP members could be asked to support proposals that would have allowed self-administered abortion up to birth for any reason, including sex-selective abortion. At that time, CPO Director Anthony Horan noted that any measure which could permit abortion up to the point of birth and facilitate sex-selective abortion raised "profound moral and ethical concerns".

Commenting on the decision to withdraw the motion, Anthony Horan said:

"I welcome the decision of the SNP to remove this motion from its conference agenda. The proposals it contained would have represented a radical and unnecessary weakening of protections for unborn children and their mothers.

"Every human life possesses inherent dignity and worth from conception until natural death. A compassionate society is one that protects both mother and child.

"I am grateful to all those who highlighted the serious ethical concerns raised by these proposals and who encouraged reflection on the wider consequences of removing long-standing legal safeguards.

"Scotland faces many pressing challenges. Families are struggling with the cost of living, communities require better housing and healthcare provision, and we need greater investment in support for parents, children and high-quality palliative care. These are the issues that deserve the attention of our political leaders.

"I hope that this decision provides an opportunity for a more constructive conversation about how Scotland can support women facing difficult pregnancies while continuing to uphold respect for the dignity and value of every human life."

...ENDS

Notes for editors

Photo of Anthony Horan, Director of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office: Photo of Anthony Horan
The Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office works on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, by engaging with politicians and policymakers on matters central to the life and mission of the Catholic Church.
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

June 2026

06Jun

Gospel

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

Gospel
Mark 12:38-44
‘This poor widow has put in more than everyone.’

At that time: In his teaching Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the market-places, and have the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honour at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and, for a pretence, make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

05Jun

Boniface, known as the apostle of the Germans, was an English Benedictine monk who gave up being elected abbot to devote his lif...

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

Boniface, known as the apostle of the Germans, was an English Benedictine monk who gave up being elected abbot to devote his life to the conversion of the Germanic tribes. Two characteristics stand out: his Christian orthodoxy and his fidelity to the pope of Rome.

How absolutely necessary this orthodoxy and fidelity were is borne out by the conditions Saint Boniface found on his first missionary journey in 719 at the request of Pope Gregory II. Paganism was a way of life. What Christianity he did find had either lapsed into paganism or was mixed with error. The clergy were mainly responsible for these latter conditions since they were in many instances uneducated, lax and questionably obedient to their bishops. In particular instances their very ordinations were questionable.

These are the conditions that Saint Boniface was to report in 722 on his first return visit to Rome. The Holy Father instructed him to reform the German Church. The pope sent letters of recommendation to religious and civil leaders. Boniface later admitted that his work would have been unsuccessful, from a human viewpoint, without a letter of safe-conduct from Charles Martel, the powerful Frankish ruler, grandfather of Charlemagne. Boniface was finally made a regional bishop and authorized to organize the whole German Church. He was eminently successful.

In the Frankish kingdom, he met great problems because of lay interference in bishops’ elections, the worldliness of the clergy and lack of papal control.

During a final mission to the Frisians, Boniface and 53 companions were massacred while he was preparing converts for confirmation.

In order to restore the Germanic Church to its fidelity to Rome and to convert the pagans, Saint Boniface had been guided by two principles. The first was to restore the obedience of the clergy to their bishops in union with the pope of Rome. The second was the establishment of many houses of prayer which took the form of Benedictine monasteries. A great number of Anglo-Saxon monks and nuns followed him to the continent, where he introduced the Benedictine nuns to the active apostolate of education.

05Jun

Gospel

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

Gospel
Mark 12:35-37
‘How can they say that the Christ is the son of David?’

At that time: As Jesus taught in the Temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ” David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?’ And the great throng heard him gladly.

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.