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

30th July 2026

30 July 2026

Bishop Welcomes Prime Minister’s Call to Prioritise Care Reforms Before Westminster Assisted Suicide Vote

Bishop John Keenan, the Bishop with responsibility for Marriage, Family and Life for the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s call for the serious gaps in palliative and social care to be addressed before the Westminster Parliament considers assisted suicide legislation.

Bishop Keenan said:

“The Prime Minister’s intervention is both timely and welcome. We have a duty to ensure that every person approaching the end of life has access to the compassionate palliative and social care they deserve. No one should ever feel driven towards assisted suicide because they lack the care, support or dignity they need.

“We were grateful that the Scottish Parliament resolutely rejected assisted suicide only recently. We hope this latest intervention will encourage Members of the Westminster Parliament to reflect carefully before taking a step that would fundamentally change the way our society cares for the sick and vulnerable.

“As our Catholic Parliamentary Officer, Anthony Horan, has rightly said: ‘The last thing the country needs is another divisive debate about assisted suicide. We need to make progress in improving palliative and social care, not offering vulnerable people state support to end their lives.’ I share that conviction wholeheartedly.

“This is an opportunity to rethink the whole approach to assisted suicide. The compassionate response to suffering is never to help people end their lives, but to ensure they receive the high-quality care, love and accompaniment they need. Let us pray for all who are seriously ill, for their families and carers, and for those in public office, that they may always uphold the dignity of every human life and work to build a society that truly cares for its most vulnerable members.”

Bishop John Keenan

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

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 tag: Bishops' Conference of ScotlandReturn

May 2026

17May

Gospel

17 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Gospel
John 17:1-11a
‘Father, glorify your Son.’

At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
‘I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.’

16May

Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Journey to France from 25–28 September this year, in what will be the first official papal v...

16 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Journey to France from 25–28 September this year, in what will be the first official papal visit to the country in 18 years.

16May

The Kirking of the newly elected Scottish Parliament took place this week at St Giles’ Cathedral

16 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Kirking of the newly elected Scottish Parliament took place this week at St Giles’ Cathedral. The ancient Christian tradition of blessing Members of the Scottish Parliament has, in recent years, been broadened to include representatives from other faith communities.

The Act of Commendation, entrusting the Parliament to God, was led by the retiring Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Rosie Frew, alongside Archbishop Leo Cushley and Most Rev Mark Strange.

In her sermon, Rt Rev Frew reflected on the words inscribed on the Parliament’s ceremonial mace; wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity, highlighting these as qualities MSPs should seek to embody in their work and shared commitment to public service.

The service was attended by leaders of political parties at Holyrood, together with newly elected MSPs.

16May

Please keep in your prayers all those working in Catholic communications across Scotland as the Church marks Communications Sund...

16 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Please keep in your prayers all those working in Catholic communications across Scotland as the Church marks Communications Sunday this weekend.

Through parish, diocesan and national communications, the Gospel continues to reach people in new ways each day.

16May

Gospel

16 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Gospel
John 16:23b-28
‘The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’

15May

This weekend, the second collection in parishes across Scotland will support Communications Sunday and the work of the Bishops’ ...

15 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

This weekend, the second collection in parishes across Scotland will support Communications Sunday and the work of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland Office for Communications and Evangelisation.

Through digital media, livestreaming, social media and the press, the Church continues to share the Gospel with people across Scotland, including the sick, the housebound and those looking to deepen their faith.

Thank you for your continued support of this important work.

You can also donate online at: http://bit.ly/CommsSunday

15May

A warm welcome was extended to Archbishop Nolan and Archbishop Leo Cushley today at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotla...

15 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

A warm welcome was extended to Archbishop Nolan and Archbishop Leo Cushley today at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

It is believed to be the first occasion that two Catholic Archbishops have attended the Assembly together.

15May

The Church is not a club turned in on itself

15 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

The Church is not a club turned in on itself. It is called to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News.

In this powerful reflection for Communications Sunday, Bishop Frank reminds us that every Christian is called to be an evangeliser through our words, our witness, and the way we live our faith each day.

From stained glass windows to television and the digital world, the Church has always used every means possible to share the Gospel with those who need to hear it.

This weekend, there will be a special collection at Masses across Scotland for Communications Sunday, supporting the work of the Office for Communications and Evangelisation.

Please keep this mission in your prayers and, if you are able, support the collection at Mass or donate online via the link below.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/CommsSunday

15May

The Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel continues in today’s digital world, and each of us has a part to play

15 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel continues in today’s digital world, and each of us has a part to play.

Communications Sunday, celebrated on 17th May, is an opportunity to reflect on how we share the message of Christ through media, technology, and communication. From livestreamed Masses and social media to videos, podcasts, news, and parish outreach, these platforms allow the Gospel to reach people wherever they are.

As Catholics, we can and must contribute to this effort by supporting the Church’s mission of evangelisation and by using our own voices to witness to faith, hope, and truth in the world around us.

A second collection will be taken up next weekend in support of the Office of Communications & Evangelisation of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. Your support helps continue this important work across Scotland and beyond.

15May

Gospel

15 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
John 16:20-23a
‘No one will take your joy from you.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me.’