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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.

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Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

September 2025



The Jubilee of Catechists starts on Friday 26 September with more than twenty thousand pilgrims registered for the events and celebrations.
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📢 URGENT: Pray and Act for Gaza

As we approach two years of war in Gaza, Justice & Peace Scotland is inviting everyone to take part in two simple but powerful actions:

🕯️ Step 1: Light a Prayer for Peace
On 7th October, join us in a day of prayer for peace in the Holy Land.

✍️ Step 2: Write to Your MP
Use our template letter to call on the UK Government to do more to end the suffering, ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in desperate need, reunite Israeli hostages with their families and, most importantly, work for a just and lasting peace for all Palestinians and Israelis.

🎥We’ve recorded a short video to explain how you can get involved. Please watch and share it widely so that as many people as possible can join this action of faith and solidarity.

Through prayer and advocacy, we can shine a light in the darkness and stand with those most in need.

➡️ Find all the details, including a template MP letter and prayers, on our website and in the comments below.

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🇻🇦🇬🇧 Their Majesties will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See in late October, joining Pope Leo XIV in celebrating the Jubilee Year.

A Papal Jubilee occurs every 25 years, and is a special time for the Catholic Church. The visit will also celebrate the ecumenical work by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the Jubilee’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
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Pray for all our SVP Conferences on their feast day 🙏


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In his first appointment of a head of a Vatican department, Pope Leo names Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm. – who has been serving as Prefect of ...
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Mission Month and Mission Sunday
https://www.missioscotland.com/about
Mission and evangelisation are at the very heart of the Church’s identity and purpose. The month of October is dedicated in a special way to promoting and supporting the Church’s missionary work. This emphasis is particularly close to the heart of Pope Leo, who himself served as a missionary in Peru.

Throughout October, the Holy Father urges the whole People of God to pray for the Church in mission countries, especially where the Church is small, poor, or newly established.

Each parish priest should already have received a pack from the Missio Scotland office containing resources and information to assist in marking Mission Month.

The annual collection for the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith (Missio) is taken up in every parish on Mission Sunday, 19th October and the funds collected sent to the Missio Scotland office as soon as possible.

Finally, please encourage your parishioners to keep the global Church family in their hearts and prayers during this Mission Month.

Sincerely in Christ,

Vincent


Missio Scotland is the Holy Father's official charity for overseas mission. We are part of a global network serving the church in over 120 countries.
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-09/apostolic-nuncio-archbishop-horgan-sudan-war-pope-closeness-pray.html


The closeness of the Pope and of the Church to the war-struck people of Sudan was at the heart of the Apostolic Nuncio‘s mission as he travelled to ...
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