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.

BISHOPS RESPOND TO SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT'S PALLIATIVE CARE CONSULTATION

Scotland’s Catholic Bishops: Scottish Government’s laudable draft strategy on palliative care stands in stark contrast to dangerous assisted suicide proposal

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has responded positively to Scottish Government proposals for a new strategy on palliative care.

In its submission to a recent consultation the bishops declared their support for the draft strategy, stating that the proposals “uphold the dignity of human life for those at the end of life, their families, and carers” and said that the “laudable” proposals “stand in stark contrast to the dangerous Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill” currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament.

The bishops said: “rather than being used to kill people, many of whom are vulnerable, public resources should be invested in helping people to live and to be more comfortable at the end of life.”

The bishops emphasised the crucial role of palliative care, declaring it to be “a precious and crucial instrument in the care of patients during terminal illness” and encouraged the government to ensure that a framework is in place to allow hospices to be appropriately funded to continue to deliver end-of-life care to all those who need it.

The bishops also stressed the importance of spiritual care and assistance for patients and their families at the end of life and called for such support to be a key element of a holistic approach to end-of-life care. Please see the full submission at the Catholic Parliamentary Office website

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

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News from the Commissions and Agencies

October 2024

05Oct

Synod press conference - Day 3: An invitation to listen to all - Vatican News

05 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

On the feast of St. Francis, Friday, 4 October, the second general congregation of the General Assembly of the Synod heard reports from the five ...

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04Oct

Community concern on assisted dying legislation – Pax Christi Scotland

04 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.paxchristiscotland.org/community-concern-on-assisted-dying-legislation/

Our latest blog is by Brian Cairns, a retired teacher and a founding member of the Campaign Against Assisted Dying. He reflects on assisted dying legislation an

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03Oct

Photos from Galloway Diocese's post

03 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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02Oct

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

02 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Office for Care of Creation, in partnership with SCES and KSC held a Design a Garden Competition for Primary Schools this year. Last Friday, the winners (Our Lady’s Primary School, Perth) were awarded their winner’s trophy by Bishop Andrew McKenzie

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02Oct

Photos from Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency's post

02 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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02Oct

The Pope also asked everyone to observe October 7 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world and an end to violence

02 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Pope also asked everyone to observe October 7 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world and an end to violence.

At the opening Mass of the @Synod, Pope Francis announces that he will go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major on October 6 to offer a prayer of supplication for peace to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to recite the Rosary.

The Pope also asked everyone to observe October 7 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world and an end to violence.

"Let us resume this ecclesial journey with our gaze turned toward the world, because the Christian community is always at the service of humanity, to proclaim the joy of the Gospel to all. This is needed, especially in this dramatic hour of our history, as the winds of war and the flames of violence continue to upheave entire peoples and nations," he said.

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02Oct

End the British Government's cruel two-child benefit cap | SPUC

02 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

End the British Government's
cruel two-child benefit cap- SIGN THE PETITION

Did you know that BPAS, one of Britain's biggest abortion providers, has identified that the Government’s punitive two-child Universal Credit limit is “a significant factor” in many women deciding to abort their child?

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02Oct

Doctors express strong opposition to assisted suicide

02 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Doctors express strong opposition to assisted suicide. 82% of doctors responding to the Scottish Parliament Health Committee’s detailed call for views on proposals to legalise assisted suicide have stated that they are ‘strongly opposed’ to the plans. Please let your MSPs know about this. More information on how to do this at: https://rcpolitics.org/assisted-suicide/

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02Oct

❓How does Catholic Social Teaching enable us to address the most pressing issues of our time?

02 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

❓How does Catholic Social Teaching enable us to address the most pressing issues of our time?
❓What does Scripture and Tradition teach us about human dignity and how should we apply this in the socio-political world?

If you are in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area, join us at St Anthony's and St Mark's Rutherglen tomorrow evening for our first of three workshops on "the Church's best kept secret".

🗓️Thurs, Oct 3rd
🕢7.30pm
📍St Anthony's Church, Mar Gardens, Rutherglen
👐All welcome!

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01Oct

As the violence in the Middle East continues to escalate, Justice & Peace Scotland reissue our call for a ceasefire now

01 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

As the violence in the Middle East continues to escalate, Justice & Peace Scotland reissue our call for a ceasefire now.

Please join us in praying for peace and security for all across the region and for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. 🙏

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