The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

17th March 2026

17 March 2026

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

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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December 2025

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Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint Stephen | 26 December 2025

26 Dec, 2025 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint Stephen | 26 December 2025
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

26Dec

Today we remember St Stephen, the first martyr of the Church

26 Dec, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today we remember St Stephen, the first martyr of the Church.

Just two years after Christ’s death, Stephen was stoned in Jerusalem. The Book of Acts highlights striking parallels between his trial and the Lord’s: like Jesus, he was taken outside the city and died praying for his executioners.

Stephen was one of the first seven deacons, chosen to assist the Apostles. Scripture describes him as “filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,” a man full of grace, strength, and zeal. His fearless witness fulfilled Jesus’ promise that the Spirit would speak through His disciples, Stephen’s opponents could not withstand his wisdom.

Placed the day after Christmas, his feast reminds us that Christ’s coming leads to courageous love. St Stephen imitates his Master completely, even to the point of offering his life and praying for those who harmed him.

St Stephen, pray for us. ✨

26Dec

Gospel of the day (Matthew 10:17-22)

26 Dec, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel of the day (Matthew 10:17-22)

At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: ‘Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’

25Dec

What does “Happy Christmas” really mean?

25 Dec, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

What does “Happy Christmas” really mean?

Bishop Frank Dougan reflects on Christmas as truly blessed because God is with us. From the fall in Genesis to the joy of the Incarnation, he reminds us of this extraordinary truth: God became man so that we might share in His divine life.

This Christmas, we are invited not to live without God, but to rejoice in the gift of salvation and give thanks, like the shepherds, for all that God has done for us.

25Dec