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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

News from the Commissions and Agencies

August 2025

20Aug

Cardinal Zuppi leads seven-hour prayer, naming every child killed in Holy Land war

20 Aug, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.ncronline.org/news/cardinal-zuppi-leads-seven-hour-prayer-naming-every-child-killed-holy-land-war

The head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference took turns with dozens of other members of his diocese reading the names and ages of the 16 Israeli children and the 12,211 Palestinian children who have been killed in the war.

19Aug

Saint John Eudes | Franciscan Media

19 Aug, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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

Saint John Eudes was a noted preacher and confessor. He founded several seminaries because he saw the need for clerical formation. He also founded a couple of religious communities to address other needs that he saw. Saint John had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Hea...

19Aug

Fr. Romanelli: Evacuation order issued for Gaza parish neighborhood - Vatican News

19 Aug, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza, says “an evacuation order has been issued for the entire neighborhood,” as ...

18Aug

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

18 Aug, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

18Aug

🎬Highlights from Faslane Peace Vigil

18 Aug, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🎬Highlights from Faslane Peace Vigil

It’s been a couple of weeks since over 140 Christians from across traditions gathered outside Faslane Naval Base to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with prayer, reflection and song while calling for a world without nuclear weapons.

We are still delighted by the remarkable attendance, the sense of Christian unity and the national media coverage the vigil received.

If you weren’t able to be there on the day or if you’d like to revisit our powerful public witness for peace, we’re delighted to share this short highlight video capturing the events of the day.

🕊️ May it continue to inspire us all to be a channel of God's peace by advocating for a world where security is built not on the threat of nuclear destruction but on the common good, respect for human dignity, and fraternity amongst nations.

18Aug