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The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

17th March 2026


17 March 2026

Scotland Rejects Assisted Dying and Affirms Human Dignity

MSPs can be confident that they have taken the correct and responsible course of action. Their vote serves to protect some of Scotland’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of being pressured into a premature death.
Every human life possesses inherent value. Genuine compassion is not expressed through ending a life, but through accompanying those who suffer and ensuring they receive the medical, emotional, and spiritual support that recognises their dignity. No life is without worth.
As a society, our responsibility is not to address suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to surround each person with care, respect, and dignity until their natural end. Today’s decision moves Scotland further in that direction, and MSPs should be commended for this.
However, we must continue to make progress. Our next priority must be to strengthen palliative care by ensuring that it is properly funded and accessible to all who require it.
I would like to express my gratitude to all MSPs for their serious engagement with this issue and for the thoughtful and considered attention they have given to the bill. I am especially grateful to those who upheld the principle of human dignity and advocated on behalf of the vulnerable. Your principled commitment has not gone unnoticed.
Bishop John Keenan
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland


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.

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June 2025



The Bishop of Paisley, Bishop John Keenan has condemned a series of vicious acts of vandalism carried out in the last 24 hours at the diocesan cemetery, St. Conval’s on Glasgow Road, Barrhead.

Vandals are believed to have entered the grounds of the cemetery in the early hours of 29 June and attacked around 40 headstones, some of which have been demolished. They also attacked a large wooden crucifix some 5 meters in height which was set on fire.

Bishops Keenan said:

“I am saddened and dismayed by this senseless vandalism and the destructive violence behind it. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have had headstones attacked, as well as with the whole community of relatives and friends who visit St. Conval’s and care for the graves of their loved ones so tenderly.”

Bishop Keenan added:

“My gratitude goes to the St. Conval’s staff who maintain the grounds and administer the cemetery and who now face the distressing task of repairing and making safe damaged graves while comforting distraught families.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Paisley said:

“Anyone with any information relating to these attacks is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 1089 of 29 June. Anyone wishing to contact the cemetery staff can do so on: 0141 881 1058
Or stconvalscemeteryrcdop.org.uk.”
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No to Nuclear Weapons: Christian Peace Vigil at Faslane - Saturday 2nd August, 10.30am–12 noon | HM Naval Base Clyde, South Gate (Maidstone Road)
No to Nuclear Weapons Faslane Christian Witness Aug 2025

In the week marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Christians from across Scotland will gather at Faslane Naval Base for an ecumenical peace vigil to witness against the continued presence and threat of nuclear weapons.

Organised by Justice & Peace Scotland, this gathering will be a time of prayer, reflection, readings, and song led by senior Church leaders:
• Most Rev. William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow and President of Justice & Peace Scotland
• Rt Rev. Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
• Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

Members of the Iona Community will also join us as together we call for nuclear disarmament and peace. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to uphold the dignity of every human life. Nuclear weapons are fundamentally incompatible with this call as their existence threatens indiscriminate destruction and a future built on fear and power-wielding rather than on fraternity amongst nations.

The vigil is an opportunity for Christians to stand in faith and solidarity on the site where the UK’s weapons of mass destruction are housed and to renew our shared commitment to the common good and the flourishing of creation.

Free Transport Available
A free Lothian Buses coach will depart from:
• Edinburgh - Waterloo Place (beside Waverley Station), leaving at 7.45am
• Glasgow - Gordon Street (outside Central Station), leaving at 9.15am
To secure a seat, please email: [email protected]

All are welcome. Help us spread the word by sharing with your family, friends and networks.

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Around the year 64, the city of Rome experienced a devastating fire. Emperor Nero blamed it on the Christians, and a severe persecution followed. Included in the mass murder of Christians were the First Martyrs of Rome. We don’t know their names, but their witness to the faith is certain.
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Gospel of the Day (Matthew 16,13-19)

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day/2025/06/29.html
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The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). For the 2025 Liturgical Calendar, this is Saturday, June 28th, 2025.
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Conditions in the Gaza Strip are deteriorating rapidly. Israeli operations - including shelling and bombing across the Strip - continue to have a devastating impact on civilians, reportedly killing and injuring scores of people, many of whom were seeking aid.Humanitarian operatio...
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Gospel of 27 June 2025Luke 15:3-7At that time: Jesus told the Pharisees and scrib...
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