The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

20th March 2026

20 March 2026

Statement from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Following a request from the Holy See, the Bishops of Scotland have been invited to reflect on how the structures of the Church in our country can best serve her mission in the years ahead, specifically whether the present situation of eight dioceses is suitable.

We are all aware of the challenges before us — fewer clergy, changing patterns of practice, and increasing pressures on our diocesan resources, among other things. Yet our mission remains unchanged: to proclaim the Gospel and to lead our people to Christ.

Two possible pathways are being proposed for careful discernment: developing deeper cooperation and the sharing of resources across dioceses within our present structures, or the merging of some dioceses.

In order to best inform ourselves and the Holy See, each bishop will engage with his diocese over the coming months for the first part of this process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pray, reflect, and contribute.

Following-on from the presentation of a discussion paper, responses from each diocese will contribute to the initial findings which will be given to the Holy See in the Autumn.

This is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a pastoral and missionary response to our changing landscape. This process will ensure our Church in Scotland will continue to grow ever more missionary, more Christ-centred, and more collaborative in the service of God’s people.

Entrusting this work to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Our Lady, we move forward together with confidence and renewed hope.

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

Empty
Click + to add content

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn

March 2026

12Mar

MSPs have voted against an amendment that would have prevented doctors from raising assisted suicide with patients unprompted

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

MSPs have voted against an amendment that would have prevented doctors from raising assisted suicide with patients unprompted.

Without this safeguard, vulnerable people could be exposed to conversations about ending their life at moments of fear, illness or pressure.

This raises serious concerns about how the Assisted Dying Bill could affect those who are elderly, disabled or seriously ill.

This bill is a danger to vulnerable people and must be rejected.

Contact your MSP today and ask them to vote against the Assisted Suicide Bill:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot

The more we KNOW, the more we say NO!

12Mar

When a law like this is introduced, it does not remain fixed

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

When a law like this is introduced, it does not remain fixed. What begins with strict limits can change over time as new cases are brought forward and pressure grows to widen eligibility.

One decision today can open the door to changes in the years ahead that we cannot fully control.

That is why it is so important to consider not only what the law says now, but where it could lead in the future.

📩 Contact your MSP and ask them to reject the Assisted Dying Bill: carenotkilling.scot

12Mar

Photos from Russell Findlay's post

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

Yes another MSP withdraws his support for the McArthur Assisted Dying Bill.

The more we KNOW, the more we say NO!

Contact your MSP to reject this bill
👉🏼 www.carenotkilling.scot

12Mar

Liam McArthur has declined to rule out the possibility of doctors in Scotland ending a patient’s life if an assisted suicide att...

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

Liam McArthur has declined to rule out the possibility of doctors in Scotland ending a patient’s life if an assisted suicide attempt does not work.

The warning signs of a slippery slope are already appearing and this proposal shows how quickly the boundaries can begin to shift.

Kill the bill. Contact your MSP today
👉🏼 carenotkilling.scot

12Mar

Gospel

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

Gospel
Luke 11:14-23
‘Whoever is not with me is against me.’

At that time: Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowd marvelled. But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons’, while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.’

11Mar

This content isn't available right now

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

Kill the Bill in Scotland

A new short documentary exposing the serious risks of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill currently before the Scottish Parliament.

Featuring voices from medicine, palliative care, politics and ethics, the film highlights growing concerns about the impact this law could have on vulnerable people and the future of end-of-life care in Scotland.

It also looks at the experience of other countries, where assisted suicide laws introduced with safeguards have later expanded far beyond their original limits.

📢 The more we KNOW, the more we say NO.

Now is the time to raise your voice.

Contact your MSP today:
👉 https://www.carenotkilling.scot/
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

11Mar

One of the most serious concerns about assisted suicide legislation is this: safeguards do not work

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

One of the most serious concerns about assisted suicide legislation is this: safeguards do not work.

We only have to look at countries that have already introduced these laws. In places such as Holland, Belgium and Canada, what began with strict limits has steadily expanded. Boundaries shift. Protections weaken. And the most vulnerable are placed at risk.

Safeguards written on paper are not enough when human life is at stake.

Scotland must learn from what has happened elsewhere before crossing a line that cannot easily be undone.

The more we KNOW, the more we say NO.

Write to your MSPs by visiting:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot/

Be sure to carefully read the wording of the email to make sure you are happy for it to be sent to your MSPs. Click the button on the website and enter your postcode when prompted.

11Mar

Dr Gillian Wright raises serious concerns about the impact of assisted suicide legislation on the most vulnerable in our society

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

Dr Gillian Wright raises serious concerns about the impact of assisted suicide legislation on the most vulnerable in our society. While no one wants to see people suffer at the end of life, she warns that laws like this risk sending a dangerous message that the lives of those who are frail, terminally ill, elderly, lonely, or struggling with mental illness are somehow less valuable.

Experience from other countries shows how quickly such laws can expand. In Canada, legislation that was first presented as tightly restricted to those who were terminally ill has since been widened to include people with chronic illness and is moving toward including those with psychiatric conditions.

These developments raise important questions about whether any system can truly safeguard those who may feel pressure, isolation, or a sense of being a burden.

The more we know, the more we say no.

Learn more and contact your MSP today:
🌐 http://carenotkilling.scot

11Mar

An amendment to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill proposes that eligibility should depend on a six-mo...

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

An amendment to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill proposes that eligibility should depend on a six-month prognosis.

But leading palliative care experts warn that predicting how long someone has left to live is not an exact science. Prognosis is often uncertain, and many people live far longer than expected.

Turning population averages into legal deadlines risks serious and irreversible mistakes.

When the stakes are life and death, uncertainty matters.

The more we know, the more we say NO.

Learn more and contact your MSP:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot/

11Mar

“Be careful what you wish for.”

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

“Be careful what you wish for.”

Laws introduced with safeguards and good intentions often expand over time. What begins as a limited measure can quickly grow beyond what was first promised.

Experience from other countries shows that once the door is opened, it rarely remains closed to further change.

Scotland must consider the long-term consequences.

The more we KNOW, the more we say NO.

Write to your MSPs by visiting:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot/

Carefully read the wording of the email before sending. Click the button and enter your postcode when prompted.