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

11th October 2026

11 October 2026

Scotland’s Bishops Lead Prayers for Pope Leo

The Catholic bishops of Scotland have offered their prayers and support for Pope Leo XIV following the announcement today that he is to undergo surgery in the coming days.

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square at today’s Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo revealed that recent medical examinations had identified a small, localised nodule on his lung. The Holy Father explained that it had been detected at a very early stage and that, following medical advice, he had decided to undergo surgery to remove it.

Speaking on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop John Keenan expressed the bishops’ solidarity with the Holy Father and invited Catholics and people of goodwill across Scotland to remember him in their prayers.

Bishop Keenan said:

“We are conscious of the concern that news of the Holy Father’s health will bring to Catholics and to so many others throughout the world.

“At this time, we wish to express our closeness to Pope Leo and our hope that he will be strengthened and reassured by the prayers and good wishes of so many people who hold him in great affection and esteem.

“On behalf of all the bishops of Scotland, I want to assure the Holy Father of our heartfelt prayers and support.

“We invite Catholics across Scotland, and all people of goodwill, to join us in praying for Pope Leo, for the medical team caring for him, and for a successful operation and a full and speedy recovery.

“May the Lord give him strength and peace in the days ahead.”

...ENDS

Notes for editors

Photo of Pope Leo: Photo of Pope Leo XIV
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCoS) is the assembly of the Catholic bishops of Scotland, working together on national pastoral, social and legislative matters on behalf of the Church. www.bcos.org.uk
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]

8th October 2026

8 October 2026

Parental and Pastoral Care Without Fear: A Response to the SNP Conference Motion on Conversion Practices

The Catholic Parliamentary Office shares the determination to protect every person from violence, coercion, and abuse and strongly believes that such conduct should be addressed effectively under the law, and those who have suffered harm should receive compassionate and appropriate support.

At the same time, the motion tabled at SNP Party Conference proposes a prohibition of exceptional breadth, extending across family life, religious settings, healthcare and situations in which an adult has sought assistance voluntarily. Without precise definitions and robust safeguards, such an approach risks treating ordinary conversations, conscientious guidance and supportive care as suspect simply because they engage questions of identity, relationships, faith or personal conduct.

Parents and carers have responsibilities for the welfare of their children, including listening, offering reassurance, setting appropriate boundaries and helping them to reflect carefully on significant decisions. A broadly framed ban could create uncertainty about whether a parent may ask questions, encourage patience, seek professional advice or discuss the family’s moral and religious convictions without fear that such conversations might later be characterised as unlawful.

This uncertainty could weaken trust within the home. Children and young people benefit when they can speak openly with those who know and love them best, without family members feeling compelled either to affirm immediately every stated view or to withdraw from sensitive discussion altogether.

Pastoral ministry is founded on respect for the dignity and freedom of every person. Clergy, chaplains and lay pastoral workers are called to listen without condemnation and to accompany people with sensitivity and discretion. Individuals may seek prayer, spiritual counsel or moral guidance for many reasons. They should remain free to ask for such support, and clergy should remain free to respond honestly and compassionately within the teaching of their faith, provided no abuse, intimidation or coercion is involved.

It is important, for the sake of clarity and legal certainty, that supporters of conversion practices legislation demonstrate which conduct that isn’t already illegal they intend to criminalise by the proposed new law. Moreover, it is vital that any new law contains clear protections for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, private and family life, and the voluntary giving and receiving of pastoral care.

Anthony Horan

Director

Catholic Parliamentary Office

Bishops' Conference of Scotland

...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: Justice & Peace Scotland FacebookReturn

March 2026

19Mar

🕊️PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

19 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🕊️PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

Pope Leo has appealed for a ceasefire and renewed dialogue in the Middle East, reminding the world that true peace can never be built through violence. In a time of deep suffering and uncertainty, we are called to stand in solidarity with all those affected by conflict not only in the Middle East but in every place where war and injustice persist.

As we reflect on his words, “Violence can never lead to the justice, the stability and the peace that peoples are awaiting,” we invite you to join us in prayer for the pursuit of peace. May hearts be softened, leaders be guided by wisdom, and pathways of diplomacy, dialogue, and just peace be opened where there is division.

🙏LET US PRAY:

God of peace and justice,
you created every human person in your image
and called us to live as one family.

We bring before you the people of the Middle East,
especially those living in fear, grief, and uncertainty.
Comfort the wounded, shelter the displaced,
and welcome those who have lost their lives into your mercy.

Soften hearts hardened by anger and hatred.
Inspire leaders to choose dialogue over destruction,
to seek justice over power,
and to work tirelessly for a lasting and just peace.

Strengthen all who build bridges of reconciliation,
who speak truth with courage,
and who refuse to give in to despair.

We pray, too, for all places torn by conflict across the world.
May violence give way to reconciliation,
division to unity,
and fear to hope.

Make each of us an instrument of your peace,
that in our words and actions
we may reflect your love in the world.
Amen.

17Mar

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

17 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

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

11Mar

As the final vote approaches at Holyrood next week, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland urge you to contact your MSP asking them to...

11 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

As the final vote approaches at Holyrood next week, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland urge you to contact your MSP asking them to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

All information and links you need are in the post below. ⬇️

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has expressed deep concern over the Scottish Government’s response to proposed amendments to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The amendments, tabled by John Mason MSP and Paul O’Kane MSP, seek to introduce provisions allowing organisations—including hospices, care homes, and faith‑based institutions—to exercise conscientious objection.

In its response to these reasonable amendments, the Scottish Government stated that “it is not clear how an institution might demonstrate what their ‘conscience’ position is.”

The Bishops’ Conference strongly disagrees with this position, noting that every organisation has guiding values that shape its mission and practice.

For many faith‑based organisations, including Catholic hospices and care homes, these values are fundamentally incompatible with the introduction of assisted suicide. The Bishops’ Conference maintains that no organisation should be compelled by the State to participate in the deliberate ending of life when doing so would violate its ethical or religious principles.

The Bishops’ Conference urges the Scottish Government and MSPs to recognise and respect institutional conscience rights, ensuring that organisations are not forced into actions that contradict their foundational values.

Bishop John Keenan,
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

10Mar

Photos from Justice & Peace Scotland's post

10 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

✝️TURNING FAITH INTO ACTION: PUPILS RESPOND TO DILEXI TE

"Tackling Poverty in Scotland: Responding to Dilexi Te" recently brought together more than 30 pupils and teachers in Glasgow to explore how faith can be translated into meaningful action on poverty.

Inspired by the publication of Pope Leo’s first apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, which calls Christians to love the poor and work for the eradication of poverty, the event invited pupils to deepen their understanding of poverty in Scotland, Catholic Social Teaching, and in campaigning and advocacy.

The conference, organised by Justice & Peace Scotland and the Society of St Vincent de Paul Scotland (SSVP Scotland), welcomed Senior Vinnies from the Archdiocese of Glasgow and from Motherwell Diocese. Senior Vinnies are SSVP groups for pupils in secondary schools across Scotland.

The day began with an input from The Poverty Alliance, grounding pupils in key facts and statistics about poverty in Scotland. Real-life case studies brought these issues to life, while a household budgeting activity helped pupils grasp the daily challenges faced by those living on a low income.

Students then reflected on Dilexi Te and how Pope Leo calls on us to protect the marginalised and demand structural change to end poverty, before building practical skills in advocacy and campaigning. They ended the day by working together to plan projects to deliver in their schools in partnership with SSVP Scotland and J&P Scotland.

Many thanks to Archbishop Nolan, President of J&P Scotland, who came along to meet the pupils and to Sister Maria Robb, the Spiritual Director for SSVP Scotland, who facilitated the opening prayers and led pupils in spiritual reflection on love and action for those experiencing poverty.

Though this was a pilot conference, it proved a real success: 100% of participants said they felt better equipped to take action on poverty in Scotland - a hopeful sign for the future! ✨

06Mar

💜 Lenten Action Challenge – Week 2: Keeping Refugee Families Together

06 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

💜 Lenten Action Challenge – Week 2: Keeping Refugee Families Together

✍️For Week 2 of our Lenten Challenge we invite you to take one small action to stand with refugees and defend their right to family life by signing Safe Passage International's petition to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, asking her to keep families 'Together Not Torn'.

🚫Last year the UK Government suspended the Refugee Family Reunion route - the main pathway allowing people who have been granted refugee status in the UK to reunite with their partners and children. This decision has already left many families separated indefinitely.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Family reunion is a vital humanitarian route to protection from war and persecution. 92% of those who use it in the UK are women and children, joining family members who have already reached safety here. Removing safe routes like this risks further pushing vulnerable people towards dangerous journeys.

💔There are now plans to replace the current system with a more restrictive scheme, which could keep families separated, only deepening the uncertainty and trauma already impacting their lives. This could leave women and children in protracted states of limbo, living in camps or in dangerous circumstances, unable to join their partners and fathers who have made the initial journey to find safety in the UK.

🇻🇦The right to family life is protected in international human rights law, and Catholic Social Teaching recognises the family as the fundamental unit of society. Pope Francis repeatedly called on governments to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants and refugees. Likewise, Pope Leo XIV has affirmed that hospitality, compassion and solidarity should shape the Church’s response to migrants and refugees, encouraging Christians to welcome them as brothers and sisters and accompany them in their journeys.

📧 THE ACTION
That’s why we’re asking supporters to email the Home Secretary calling for the suspension of Refugee Family Reunion to be lifted and for the UK to protect, not curtail, safe routes that allow families to reunite.

WHAT TO DO:
1️⃣ Click the link to the email in the comments below.
2️⃣ Send the pre-written email to the Home Secretary.
3️⃣Share this post and action with others.

💜Defending the right to family life is one way we can stand alongside people seeking safety and help ensure that compassion and justice shape the policies that affect them. Keeping families together helps people recover from trauma, rebuild their lives, and integrate into their communities.

03Mar

JUSTICE & PEACE SCOTLAND AND JUSTICE & PEACE EUROPE STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

03 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

JUSTICE & PEACE SCOTLAND AND JUSTICE & PEACE EUROPE STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Justice & Peace Scotland condemns the recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as the retaliatory attacks occurring across Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Israel. This cycle of violence only serves to spread instability and grief throughout the region, breaching international law and placing innocent civilians, especially children, in grave danger.

These hostilities and the reactionary strikes that have followed demonstrate that genuine peace and security can never be achieved through bombing campaigns. True security must instead be sought through dialogue, diplomacy, negotiation, and an unwavering respect for the sacred dignity of every human person. As we witness further amplification of the growing spiral of violence in the region, we call for an immediate de-escalation and a return to the path of non-violence to protect the common good of the entire human family.

As a member Commission of Justice & Peace Europe we fully support and echo the statement issued by the Co-Presidents of J&P Europe on March 2nd, 2026:

"As Co-Presidents of Justice & Peace Europe, we wish to express our profound concern over the ongoing spiral of violence currently afflicting Iran and the broader Middle East region.

"We particularly hold in our hearts the affected populations in Iran and across the region who now undergo yet another trial, following years of tribulation and distress.

"No country, however powerful, should place itself above the core principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Mutual threats and the use of weapons can never constitute a lasting solution to conflicts. On the contrary, they only amplify them: they deepen resentment and hatred, destabilise entire regions and erode the very foundations of global peace and security.

"In the face of a tragedy of immense proportions, the present escalation reflects a confrontational logic that increasingly dominates global politics, rather than adherence to the principles of legitimate defence, which require that all possible peaceful means be exhausted before recourse to force as a last resort.

"We join Pope Leo XIV in his heartfelt appeal to “all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence” and to return to the path of “reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue.” Only diplomacy that safeguards the “well-being of peoples who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice” can sustain hope for a future grounded in mutual respect, cooperation and stability.

"We call upon the European Union and the international community to engage in tireless and united efforts towards de-escalation and the full respect of international law, including international humanitarian law. Respect for the inherent dignity of every human person and particular concern for the poorest and most vulnerable must remain at the heart of these efforts.

"The good of the people — those living in the Middle East, those temporarily present there, and all who suffer the wider consequences of this conflict — must prevail over every political, strategic or economic consideration.

"In this time of Lent, let us especially pray for peace: a peace that is both ‘disarmed and disarming’, capable of touching the hearts of those entrusted with responsibility for the common good. May the Middle East, and indeed the entire world, finally embark upon the path that leads to justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.

Dijon/Copenhagen, 2 March 2026

+Antoine Hérouard
(Co-President, Justice & Peace Europe)

Maria Hammershoy
(Co-President, Justice & Peace Europe)

03Mar

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

03 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON THE ASSISTED DYING BILL

🔹Read and share the post below.
🔹Use the link and information provided to contact your MSP.

February 2026

27Feb

📰NEWS JUST IN

27 Feb, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📰NEWS JUST IN

Our latest quarterly newsletter is now available, featuring updates on our work across the country and practical ways for you to get involved in upcoming campaigns and events.

🌟Highlights in this edition:
🔹Journals from Jerusalem Update: Insights from the 2026 Holy Land Coordination visit to Jerusalem, where J&P Scotland’s Anne-Marie Clements accompanied Archbishop William Nolan on the annual visit to the region.
🔹Lenten Challenge: Commit to our six-week Lenten Action Challenge, with weekly steps focusing on poverty, refugees, and workers' rights.
🔹Take Action: Find tools to contact your MP regarding the proposed ban on aid agencies in Gaza and on the practice of indefinite immigration detention in the UK.

➡️Find the full newsletter on our website!

26Feb

🕊️ Lenten Action Challenge - Week 1: Transforming Poverty

26 Feb, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🕊️ Lenten Action Challenge - Week 1: Transforming Poverty

For Week 1 of our Lenten Challenge we invite you to take one small action to tackle poverty in Scotland. As members of The Poverty Alliance, Justice & Peace Scotland stands with over 280 organisations to demand a Scotland where everyone is treated with dignity.

In his recent encyclical Dilexi Te, Pope Leo XIV calls us to move beyond vague compassion to concrete action on poverty. He reminds us that we are all responsible for all and that our faith is nothing without action.

📧THE ACTION
We are asking all our supporters to send The Poverty Alliance’s 2026 Manifesto to their current MSPs and prospective election candidates.

🛣️WHY SHOULD YOU SEND IT?
Because 1 in 5 people in Scotland are currently held back by poverty, preventing them from living full lives worthy of their human dignity. The Poverty Alliance’s manifesto lays out a clear roadmap to turn the tide on poverty - now our politicians must find the political will to act.

☑️KEY ASKS:
🔹A Minimum Income Guarantee: Ensuring no one in Scotland falls below the income needed to live a dignified life.
🔹Fair Work: Encouraging all employers to adopt the real Living Wage.
🔹Dignified Social Security: Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £55 per week to lift 20,000 children out of poverty.
🔹Stronger Public Services: Delivering universal free school breakfasts and lunches for all pupils.

WHAT TO DO:
1️⃣Download the Manifesto from the homepage of The Poverty Alliance website.
2️⃣Email your candidates: Attach the PDF with a message asking: "As a voter, I want to know - how will you work to achieve these aims if elected?"

💜By turning our energy from indifference to advocacy this Lent, we can begin the essential work of dismantling the unjust social structures Pope Leo calls us to confront in Dilex Te.

20Feb

📰Update from the Bishops' Conference on plans for new offices

20 Feb, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📰Update from the Bishops' Conference on plans for new offices.

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.