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

September 2024

21Sep

Euthanasia: A Warning from Canada

21 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Euthanasia: A Warning from Canada.
Thursday 3rd October, 7.30 – 9pm, Gillis Centre, 100 Strathern Road, Edinburgh EH9 1BB

Learn how Assisted Suicide has failed in Canada, and what you can do to stop it in Scotland.

Alex Schadenberg is a Catholic from Canada and a world expert on the dangers of euthanasia. He's coming to Scotland to explain why mistakes in Canada could easily happen in here.

In Canada, as with all euthanasia laws, they started with “strict safeguards” which were then widened so that a Canadian veteran was offered euthanasia when what she really wanted was a wheelchair lift. And funding has been cut for hospices who refuse to take part in euthanasia.

This could happen in Scotland if the "Assisted Dying" Bill is passed in the Scottish Parliament.

At this in-person event, organised by the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh and Care Not Killing, Alex will tell you what went wrong in Canada, and how to stop it in Scotland.

By the end of the talk, you’ll have lots of information to put to your MSPs and others to explain why “assisted dying” proposals are so dangerous to the most vulnerable people in Scotland.

Register here: https://bit.ly/warningfromcanada

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21Sep

Second synod session to open with penitential liturgy

21 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/second-synod-session-open-penitential-liturgy

The liturgy will include time to listen to the testimonies of three people: one who suffered from the sin of abuse, one from the sin of war and third from the sin of indifference to the plight of migrants, according to a Vatican statement announcing the liturgy.

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21Sep

Saint Matthew | Franciscan Media

21 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-matthew/

Matthew was a Jew who worked for the Romans as a tax collector. His fellow Jews considered him a traitor and resented him. The Pharisees viewed him, and all tax collectors, as sinners. So it was a real shock to hear that Jesus called such a man to be one of his followers. But that’s the kind of th...

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21Sep

Goodnight Facebook ❤️

21 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Goodnight Facebook ❤️

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20Sep

Pope Francis grants approval for Medjugorje devotion - Vatican News

20 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-09/pope-francis-ddf-note-nulla-osta-approval-medjugorje-devotion.html

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the ...

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20Sep

Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and Companions | Franciscan Media

20 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-andrew-kim-taegon-paul-chong-hasang-and-companions/

The Korean martyrs, including Saints Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Chong Hasang, spread the gospel in their native land under extremely difficult circumstances. The holy companion martyrs include bishops, priests, and laity, some of whom where French missionaries.

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19Sep

‘Safe Zones’ at abortion clinics in England called ‘unnecessary’ by Catholic bishops

19 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and-ireland/2024/09/safe-zones-at-abortion-clinics-in-england-called-unnecessary-by-catholic-bishops

A new law in Great Britain will enact “safe access zones” outside abortion facilities in England and Wales on Oct. 31, a move the Catholic bishops’ conference calls “unnecessary and disproportionate.”

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18Sep

https://www.facebook.com/share/GT2iqtPGSErTxLxe/?mibextid=WC7FNe

18 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.facebook.com/share/GT2iqtPGSErTxLxe/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Greetings from Zambia where I am visiting SCIAF partners and projects. It has taken just over 24 hours to reach our destination at Kebwe and, after a short rest, we joined the Holy Family Sisters for Mass.
St James reminded us that faith - our relationship with God - is not genuine unless we reach out to the poor and vulnerable in love. For Scottish Catholics SCIAF is our official agency through which we serve the world’s poor. Over the next few days I will experience Zambian dioceses and Caritas serving local communities. I hope that sharing inspiring examples of the Scottish and Zambian Churches cooperating in support of the poor will deepen your appreciation of the integral link between love of God and love of humanity.
+Brian

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18Sep

Pope's WYD message: Hope in the Lord and you will not grow weary - Vatican News

18 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-09/pope-to-young-people-walk-in-hope.html

Pope Francis releases his message for the 39th World Youth Day, and encourages young people to embrace life's challenges with hope and perseverance.

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16Sep

In time of war, Holy Land church's reopening a sign of hope

16 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://aleteia.org/2024/09/14/in-time-of-war-reopening-of-holy-land-church-is-sign-of-hope

Cardinal Pizzaballa rededicates 100-year-old temple where the Ark of the Covenant is said to have rested.

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