The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

24th February 2026

24 February 2026

Statement on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill

The Bishops thank the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) and the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office (SCPO) for the considerable work undertaken to present the Church’s strongly held views on this issue.

We recognise a number of important protections which have been secured. Religious Education remains a central part of the curriculum and will continue to be an entitlement for all pupils. In Catholic schools, Religious Education will remain within the authority of the Bishops’ Conference. The Scottish Government has acknowledged the intrinsic nature of Religious Education and Religious Observance in Catholic schools and, despite these being de-coupled in law, has committed to respecting and continuing both. The Government has also committed to involving SCES in drafting the statutory guidance. Furthermore, the retention of the term “Religious Instruction” in law ensures that the Religious Character of Catholic schools is not reduced solely to classroom learning.

However, we are deeply concerned by the decision to grant Scottish Ministers the power to introduce regulations that would permit young people to withdraw from religious observance without parental involvement. Article 14 of the UNCRC is often quoted selectively, overlooking its clear emphasis on the essential role of parents in a child’s religious upbringing. This narrative risks creating a false divide between children’s rights and parental responsibilities. Any future legislation must uphold the UNCRC’s intention to support families, not diminish their role.

We remain deeply concerned at the official policy of the Scottish Greens to impose a fully secular model of state education – an approach that would strip away Scotland’s denominational schools entirely.

We will work firmly and constructively with the Scottish Government to ensure that Catholic schools continue to be protected in law and safeguarded for the communities they serve.

ENDS

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

Click here to visit the Jubilee 2025 website

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

News from the Commissions and Agencies

January 2026

27Jan

Holy Mass of Tuesday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time | 27 January 2026

27 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of Tuesday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time | 27 January 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

27Jan

Gospel of the day (Mark 3:31-35)

27 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel of the day (Mark 3:31-35)

At that time: The mother of Jesus and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.’ And he answered them, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.’

26Jan

One in Christ, united in mission

26 Jan, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

In his message for World Mission Sunday 2026, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invites us to be 'one in Christ, united in mission!'

DEAR brothers and sisters, for World Mission Day 2026, which marks the centenary of a celebration established by Pope Pius XI that is very dear to the Church, I have chosen the theme 'One in Christ, united in mission.'

26Jan

Join people from across Scotland for the Stations of the Cross each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm

26 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Join people from across Scotland for the Stations of the Cross each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm. Includes a brief reflection from a guest speaker.

Register at bit.ly/stations26

26Jan

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint's Timothy and Titus | 26 January 2026

26 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint's Timothy and Titus | 26 January 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

26Jan

Saints Timothy and Titus were close companions of Saint Paul and among his most trusted co workers in spreading the Gospel

26 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Saints Timothy and Titus were close companions of Saint Paul and among his most trusted co workers in spreading the Gospel. Their lives, as recorded in the New Testament, show the early Church being built amid hardship, opposition and constant travel.

Saint Timothy was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice, and was brought to faith through the witness of his family and Saint Paul himself. Converted around the year 47, he became one of Paul’s closest collaborators, assisting him in founding churches and carrying out difficult missions. Though young and naturally timid, Timothy was entrusted with great responsibility, eventually representing Paul in Ephesus. Paul’s letters to him reveal both deep affection and practical pastoral guidance.

Saint Titus was a Gentile convert and a valued missionary partner of Paul. Known for his wisdom and calm leadership, he was often sent to resolve tensions within troubled communities. Paul relied on him during a particularly difficult period in Corinth, where Titus helped restore peace and unity. Later, he was placed in charge of the Church on Crete, tasked with organising the community and appointing leaders.

Together, Timothy and Titus stand as examples of faithful service, pastoral courage and trust in God amid the challenges of the early Church.

Saints Timothy and Titus, pray for us.

26Jan

Gospel of the day (Mark 3:22-30)

26 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel of the day (Mark 3:22-30)

At that time: The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘By the prince of demons he casts out the demons.’ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

‘Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’ — for they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’

25Jan

Holy Mass of the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time | 25 January 2026

25 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time | 25 January 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

25Jan

Gospel of the day (Matthew 4:12-23)

25 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel of the day (Matthew 4:12-23)

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

24Jan

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales | 24 January 2026

24 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales | 24 January 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356