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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

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"Unfortunately, MPs have voted in support of Tonia Antoniazzi’s amendment which begins the reality of the decriminalisation of ‘abortion up to birth’. Notably, the vote took place after less than two hours of debate, and without public consultation.

"The amendment will change the law so that it is no longer illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason—including sex-selective purposes—at any point up to and during birth. It is likely to lead to an increase in the number of women performing dangerous late-term abortions at home.

"At the same time, another even more extreme amendment did not go to a vote and will not be able to become law, which would have allowed abortion on demand, for any reason, up to birth in abortion centres and hospitals, removing the time limit, the two-doctor rule and a series of other safeguards provided by the Abortion Act, and which would have made the UK the world's most extreme in terms of abortion law.

"I urge everyone to do all you can to help challenge this amendment in the House of Lords, and I ask you never to give up hoping that the dignity of all human life—from conception until natural death—will be upheld and defended on our shores, and to commit to the support of those who find themselves in difficulty in pregnancy so they can find all the help they need in choosing to keep their babies.

"I am so very grateful to all who engaged with their MPs on this matter to ask them to vote against this amendment, and to all who struggle every day to defend the rights of the unborn in our society and across the world. May God reward your efforts."
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