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General Secretariat
64 Aitken Street
Airdrie
ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Fax: 01236 762489

President: Bishop Hugh Gilbert
Vice-President: Bishop John Keenan
Episcopal Secretary: Bishop Brian McGee

General Secretary: Fr Gerard Maguiness
Finance Officer: Mrs Louisa Crisp

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Media

For up to date news affecting the Catholic Church in Scotland contact:  

Scottish Catholic Media Office

       

Scottish Catholic Media Office
5 St. Vincent Place,  Glasgow, G1 2DH.
Tel. 0141 221 1168
Fax 0141 204 2458
Email: mail@scmo.org
Web: www.scmo.org

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is the forum in which 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.

Care of Creation

An Office for the Care of Creation was established by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland in 2021. Inspired by Pope Francis’ documents Laudato si and Laudate Deum, it provides advice and guidance to dioceses and parishes to assess their carbon footprint and discern how to work towards carbon neutrality. It also collaborates with Eco-Congregation Scotland, SCIAF, and Justice & Peace on issues at home and abroad.

As COP 28 takes place in the United Arab Emirates from 30th November – 12th December 2023, we highlight ways in which YOU can become involved.

 READ MORE 




Loss and Damage: a Call to Action

At COP26 in Glasgow, one of the biggest disappointments was the failure to agree a fund for Loss and Damages. Countries which are most vulnerable to climate change and yet the least responsible, need financial support from industrialised countries who were, and continue to be, responsible for gas emissions. A Dialogue was set up to continue the conversation. At COP27 in Egypt no conclusion was brought to this dialogue. Now is the moment for world leaders to take responsibility for the damage caused by climate change especially affecting the smallest and most vulnerable countries. COP28 in the United Arab Emirates should not be mere talk but take decisive action to create a robust fund to aid those struggling with climate change that threatens their very existence. May those taking part in the Conference be strategists capable of considering the common good and the future of their children, more than the short-term interests of certain countries or businesses. In this way, may they demonstrate the nobility of politics and not its shame. (Laudate Deum 60) I pray that the hearts and consciences of all participants will be sensitive and open to the cries of the poor and weak and I entrust them to the intercession of St Andrew, our patron saint, on whose feast day COP28 will begin in Dubai.

Archbishop William Nolan
President of Justice and Peace
Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Supporting Survivors

In seeking to respond to the scandal of abuse and to appreciate the deep wounds caused by it in the lives of victims and survivors, the Church must learn how best to accompany them on their individual journeys towards healing. We must find ways to walk with them, listen to them, learn from them, and continue to support them. This should be the hallmark of the safeguarding culture in every parish, every religious community, every diocese, and every Catholic organisation in Scotland.  (In God's Image V2, page 2)

Survivors can click here to find out more about the support provided by the Church.

Announcements
Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Dunkeld - 02 February 2024
At 12 noon today (2 February 2024) in Rome (11am GMT) it was announced, that Pope Francis had nominated Fr. Martin Chambers as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld. He will succeed Bishop Stephen Robson who was Bishop of Dunkeld from 2013 to 2022 when he retired on health grounds, since when it has been administered by Fr. Kevin Golden.

Reacting to his appointment, Fr. Martin said;


“One of the catchphrases of Pope Francis is that, as Christians, we are called to be ‘Missionary Disciples’. The Pope reminds us that, yes, we are all called to take our part in the mission of spreading the Good News in our families and within our local community. However, the Pope reminds us that, first of all, we must sit as disciples at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him and letting Him guide our steps.”

“As I set out on this new Mission as Bishop of Dunkeld, I pledge to sit in prayer as a Disciple at the feet of Jesus, listening to his voice calling me forward in faith. Together, with Christ’s strength and inspiration, we will all be able to continue to build the Kingdom in the Diocese of Dunkeld.”

Fr. Martin added;

“I am also conscious that many years ago, I was accepted into seminary by Bishop Joseph McGee. He was the Bishop of Galloway who had started off as a priest of Dunkeld Diocese. In a strange way, I am returning a compliment in faith for, having started as a priest of Galloway, I am now becoming Bishop of Dunkeld.”

Responding to the news Diocesan Administrator Fr. Kevin Golden said:

“The whole community of the Diocese of Dunkeld will rejoice with me today at the appointment of Father Martin Chambers as our new Bishop. We assure him of a warm welcome as he comes among us and offer him our prayers and a steadfast commitment to working with him as he shepherds our Diocese into the future, inspired by the vision of our Holy Father Pope Francis. We renew our appreciation of the sterling work of our Bishop Emeritus, Stephen Robson.”

Welcoming the appointment of his successor, Bishop Robson said:

“I have known Fr Martin for many years since he was in the Sixth Form of Blairs College in 1981. Since then, I have followed with great admiration his journey in the priesthood thus far. He was educated in the Royal Scots College in Spain, and he has had great experience in Ecuador as a missionary priest. Various appointments as pastor, school chaplain and diocesan responsibilities in Galloway diocese then followed. All this previous experience will stand him in great stead going forward as bishop here in Dunkeld.

Personally I am delighted for Martin, and I know that the people, priests and religious of the diocese will welcome him with open arms.” 


 
Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Galloway - 22 December 2023

At 12 noon today (22 December 2023) in Rome (11am GMT) it was announced, that Pope Francis had nominated Fr. Frank Dougan as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway. He will succeed Archbishop William Nolan who was Bishop of Galloway from 2014 to 2022 when he became Archbishop of Glasgow, since when it has been administered by Fr. William McFadden.#

Reacting to his appointment, Fr. Frank said;

“I am humbled and more than a little bit nervous that Pope Francis has asked me to take on this office. I feel confident however that I will not be alone in spreading the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will be joining with every single person in Galloway Diocese all of whom have a role to play, my role being just one of them.”

“With God’s grace and the deep faith of the Church in Galloway we can continue to build on the solid foundations left by those who have come before us, stretching back to St. Ninian who first planted the seeds of the Christian faith in Scotland here in Galloway.”

Fr. Frank added;

“My mother was from Ayr, and I spent many childhood summers here, so you could say there is a little bit of coming home for me! But most importantly, we must proclaim a Church where everyone can feel at home and welcomed.”

Responding to the news Diocesan Administrator Fr. William McFadden said:

"On behalf of the community in the Diocese of Galloway, I am delighted to warmly welcome Fr Dougan as our new bishop. I can assure him of an enthusiastic welcome as he comes among us bringing his unique pastoral leadership and skills. I look forward to working with him, and in continuing the implementation in the diocese of the pastoral and prophetic vision offered by Pope Francis for the Church today. "

Reacting to the announcement, Bishop Joseph Toal, the Bishop of Motherwell said;

“I am very happy to hear that Fr Dougan has been chosen by the Holy Father as the new Bishop of Galloway. My thoughts and prayers are very much with him at this time. It is very good that Motherwell Diocese is again able to provide a Bishop for a Scottish Diocese, and it is quite something that another Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, will become Bishop of Galloway.”

“We will miss Fr Frank in Motherwell as his ministry extended beyond the the Parish to Our Lady and St Bride’s Secondary School and Hairmyres Hospital, along with his Canon Law responsibilities in the Diocese and with the Interdiocesan Tribunal. I am sure the wide pastoral experience gained here will be of great benefit in his episcopal ministry.”




 
Restructuring of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland - 10 October 2022
At the September 2022 plenary meeting of BCOS at the Royal Scots College in Salamanca, Spain, the Bishops of Scotland agreed to a restructuring of the offices and agencies of the Bishops’ Conference. 

The work of the Conference and its Agencies will be informed by the Vision of BCOSFaith seeking understanding in the light of the Joy of the Gospel and seek to implement its agreed MissionWalking together in faith, with the lay people, clergy and religious of Scotland, we embrace and share the Joy of the Gospel and the vision of the Catholic Church.

The new structure of the Conference will comprise 6 areas of mission activity:

1) Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ 
2) Promoting respect and care for human life 
3) Supporting lay vocations 
4) Ordering Sacred Liturgy and Worship 
5) Forming for Ministry 
6) Nurturing Catholic Heritage and Culture


Commenting on the new structure, Conference President Bishop Hugh Gilbert said:

“The bishops are immensely grateful to the staff and volunteers who support and advance the work of the Bishops’ Conference. In trying to respond to the times as they change, we have looked closely at the roles and remits of all our agencies and commissions and ensured Episcopal representation for them all. We hope this structure will allow us to share the Joy of the Gospel and the vision of the Catholic Church with the people of Scotland.”


 
Death of Queen Elizabeth II - 09 September 2022
Speaking, following the death of the Queen, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said:
“It was with great sadness, that we learned of the death of Her Majesty the Queen on 8th September 2022. Her life of outstanding service during a reign of 70 years stands as an example of dedicated public service in our own country, across the Commonwealth and around the world. Her determination to remain active to the end of her long life, has been an example of Christian leadership, which demonstrated her great stoicism and commitment to duty and was undoubtedly a source of stability and continuity in times of great change.

Scotland’s Catholic Bishops will remember her in our prayers and pray for all those who mourn her loss."

 
Final Synthesis of the Synodal Process in Scotland - 11 August 2022
This document summarises the key ideas and issues that have emerged from prayerful discernment and discussions across Dioceses in Scotland.
 read more ...
Holy Hour to pray for Peace - 23 March 2022

The Liturgy Commission has prepared a text that could be used by priests/deacons in a 'Holy Hour to Pray for Peace'.  This text is provided in both Word and PDF formats.

CLICK HERE for a WORD format of the text.

CLICK HERE for a PDF format of the text.

 
New Archbishop of Glasgow - 04 February 2022
On Friday 4 February 2022 Pope Francis appointed Bishop William Nolan, as Archbishop of Glasgow. The new Archbishop will succeed Archbishop Philip Tartaglia who died in January 2021. Bishop Nolan is currently the Bishop of Galloway.  The Archbishop elect will take possession of the Archdiocese during a Mass in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral at 12 noon on Saturday 26th February.

Reacting to the announcement, Bishop Nolan said: "I feel overwhelmed by the trust Pope Francis is putting in me by appointing me as Archbishop of Glasgow. It will be wrench for me to leave Galloway Diocese where for seven years I have experienced the kindness and friendship of so many people, particularly the clergy. God truly blessed me by sending me to Galloway and I hope that my successor there will be similarly blessed.  As I overcome my initial shock at being appointed Archbishop my thoughts now turn to the challenges that lies ahead. I look forward to working with everyone in the Archdiocese, laity and clergy, to carry out the mission that we share of proclaiming God’s good news and of bringing the joy of the gospel into the lives of the people of today.”
 
Bishop Nolan added:  “I am well aware of my own inadequacies and of the difficulties the Church faces today. Thank God therefore that we can sure of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the Church. As I leave the Diocese of Galloway behind, from now on I belong to Glasgow. And I assure the people of Glasgow of my commitment and dedication to them.  Please remember me in your prayers."

Welcoming the appointment Mgr. Hugh Bradley, who has been Administrator of the Archdiocese of Glasgow since the death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, said: “I am delighted with the appointment of Bishop Nolan. I offer him a warm welcome to the Archdiocese of Glasgow and a promise of prayers on behalf of all the clergy, religious and laity.  May our good God bless him with health and strength to lead us in faith.”
 
Commenting on the appointment, Fr. William McFadden, Vicar General of the diocese of Galloway said:  “As Bishop of Galloway, Bishop Nolan presented a pastoral vision with a genuinely collaborative approach. He led with humility and determination, inspired by the initiatives of Pope Francis, and focussing on the needs of the Church for the 21st century. This appointment will allow him to serve both the people of Glasgow and the wider Church with the same abilities with which he served us in Galloway for seven valuable years. We will miss him, but appreciate greatly the contribution which he made, and the legacy which he leaves.”
 
Catholic Church appoints former judge as Chair of new independent Safeguarding agency - 08 December 2021

The Catholic Church in Scotland has appointed The Hon Lady Rita Rae QC as the first Board Chair of the new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA) which will operate as a private company. Lady Rae will begin to recruit SCSSA Board Members in January 2022.  The SCSSA will operate entirely independently of the Catholic Church, with its own staff and non-executive directors who will work in close collaboration with dioceses and religious communities to ensure that they are meeting safeguarding standards.  Crucially, it will develop a forum in which those who have experienced abuse can contribute their own perspectives to the development of the Church’s safeguarding practice. 

Bishop Hugh Gilbert (President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland) said, “When considering a number of possible candidates for this important post, the Bishops were united in their view that the SCSSA Board Chair must be able to act with impartiality, integrity and freedom from interference.  We immediately recognised that Lady Rae’s prestigious legal career, and her reputation as a recent Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, offered great testimony to the rigour and the independence with which she will approach this role.  We are delighted that she has accepted this appointment.” 

Lady Rita Rae said, “I am honoured to undertake this role as the first Board Chair of the SCSSA.  I recognise that, in establishing this independent agency, the Catholic Church in Scotland is taking another bold step to ensure that its safeguarding practice is meeting the highest standards.  I intend to ensure that the agency will operate with independence and that it will seek to rebuild confidence and trust, especially among those who have experienced abuse.  I look forward to recruiting fellow Board members who will bring rigour, independence, and expertise to the work of the agency.

 
Restoration of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass - 25 November 2021

In a Pastoral Letter - 'On the Season of Christmas and the Restoration of the Mass Obligation in the Dioceses of Scotland' - to be read in all parishes on the 1st Sunday of Advent (28th November 2021), the Bishops of Scotland have encouraged all the Catholic faithful "to renew their covenant with the Church and her worship".  With Christmas Day falling on a Saturday this year, the following day is the Sunday when we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family.  The Bishops "strongly encourage" the Catholic faithful to attend Mass on both days, or at least once that weekend.  Saving any serious worsening of the pandemic in Scotland, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation will be reinstated from Sunday 2nd January 2022, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.   In accordance with the common teaching of the Church this obligation does not bind those in ill health or those otherwise impeded from attending Mass. Nor, in the context of Covid, does it bind those showing symptoms of the virus or with underlying health conditions, or those with responsibilities for people in need of special care.

Read the full letter here.

 
Assisted Suicide Bill - 21 September 2021

In response to a Bill to legalise assisted suicide that is to be lodged with the Scottish Parliament in September 2021, the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office has published a briefing to provide a Catholic perspective on why this should be opposed.

 read more ...
Diocese of Aberdeen Independent Safeguarding Audit - 26 July 2021

A report on Safeguarding in the Diocese of Aberdeen has been published following an independent audit carried out by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

 
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly - 29 June 2021

The Holy Father has nominated Sunday 25th July 2021 as the first 'World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly' with the theme: "I am with you always" (cf Mt. 28:20).  Local Churches are encouraged to find ways to celebrate and honour grandparents and the elderly.

Some resources have been provided to parishes to support this initiative.

 
Pastoral Letter on 6th Anniversary of Laudato Si' - 21 May 2021

The Bishops of Scotland have published a Pastoral Letter to be communicated to the Catholics of Scotland on the Feast of Pentecost - 23rd May 2021.  The letter marks the 6th anniversary of the publication of the Papal Encyclical Laudato Si' in which Pope Francis wrote of the ecological damage being caused to the earth - "our common home".

 read more ...
Pastoral Letter for Scottish Parliament Election 2021 - 08 April 2021

The Catholic Bishops of Scotland have issued a letter ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election on 6th May 2021 to identify some issues for consideration by the electorate.

 read more ...
Return to Worship in time for Easter - 01 March 2021
Responding to last week’s statement on the reopening of Places of Worship by the First Minister, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland have issued a statement welcoming the move and calling for a removal of the cap, which limits the number of people who can attend. Instead, the bishops maintain congregation size should be calculated in accordance with the size of each church, a system similar to that used in the retail sector, which still maintains social distancing regulations.

The full text of the statement is shown below.

As Scotland’s Catholic bishops, we welcome the recent announcement by the First Minister foreseeing a return to our churches for the most important celebration of the liturgical year at Easter. We also welcome the recognition of the status of public worship implicit in this decision.
The Catholic Community recognises the seriousness of the pandemic and is committed to working with others to avoid the spreading of infection. 
At the same time, we anticipate ongoing dialogue with the Scottish Government regarding the requirement of a numerical “cap” on the number of worshippers. As we continue to observe social distancing  and the protocols on infection control and hygiene formulated by the Bishops’ Conference working group under the leadership of the former Chief Medical Officer Sir Harry Burns, we maintain that it would be more appropriate for each church building to accommodate a congregation in proportion to its size rather than on the basis of an imposed number.
We echo here the timely words Pope Francis addressed to the representatives of countries to the Holy See on the 8th February 2021:
Even as we seek ways to protect human lives from the spread of the virus, we cannot view the spiritual and moral dimension of the human person as less important than physical health.
The opening of churches is a sign that the sacrifices endured so far are bearing fruit and gives us hope and encouragement to persevere. We pray that the Risen Christ, for whom we long during this holy season of Lent, will bless and bring healing to our nation.

 
Scotland’s Bishops mourn the death of Bishop Emeritus Vincent Logan - 14 January 2021

Following the death of Bishop Emeritus Vincent Logan, the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert has issued the following statement: 

“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Vincent Logan, the retired bishop of Dunkeld. The bishops of Scotland offer our deep condolences and the promise of our prayers to Bishop Stephen Robson and all the clergy and people of the Diocese of Dunkeld as they remember Bishop Vincent. 

Coming only a day after the death in Glasgow of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia marks this week as one of loss and mourning for the Catholic church in Scotland. 

Bishop Vincent Logan was dedicated and energetic. His episcopal ordination in 1981 at the age of 39 made him one of the youngest bishops in the world and gave him an energy and zeal in all he did. His commitment to Catholic Education was well known and his robust defence of it will be long remembered. 

On behalf of the Bishops of Scotland, we commend his soul into the hands of God and pray that he may enjoy eternal rest.” 

 
Scotland’s Catholic Bishops mourn the death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia - 13 January 2021

Following the death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert has issued the following statement:

“It is with the deepest sadness that we have learned of the death of our brother bishop and friend Philip Tartaglia. His loss to his family, his clergy and the people of the Archdiocese of Glasgow will be immeasurable but for the entire Church in Scotland this is a day of immense loss and sadness.

He was a gentle and caring pastor who combined compassion with a piercing intellect. His contribution to the work of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland over the past sixteen years was significant and we will miss his wisdom and wit very much.

On behalf of the Bishops of Scotland, we commend his soul into the hands of God and pray that he may enjoy eternal rest.”

 
Scottish Bishops respond to announcement of closure of churches from 8th January 2021 - 05 January 2021

Following the First Minister’s statement that all places of worship will close from Friday 8 January until Monday 1 February 2021, Scotland’s Catholic Bishops have issued the following statement:

“Recognising the dangers posed by the new faster-spreading variant of COVID-19, we note the Scottish Government’s decision to close all places of worship from Friday 8 January 2021. 

The Scottish Government believes that such measures are necessary to curtail the spread of this new strain during the roll-out of the vaccine. We appreciate the difficult choices facing the Scottish Government at this time and we have shown ourselves ready both to cooperate with and to support its efforts in protecting the common good.  This has included curtailing public worship in extreme circumstances and for a limited period.  

However, we are also perplexed by the decision, given that the stringent measures taken since last March to ensure public safety in our churches have been effective. No evidence has been forthcoming to justify the inclusion of places of worship as sources of infection. Without such scientific evidence these restrictions will appear to Catholics to be arbitrary and unfair.  Moreover, significant number of other sectors similarly restricted last March alongside public worship – such as construction, manufacturing and elite sports - have now been left free to continue in operation.  

We also note that, in England, the essential contribution of public worship to the spiritual welfare of all citizens during this crisis has now been endorsed by the decision not to close places of worship while the Scottish Government has apparently retreated from this view, causing dismay and confusion

We are very aware of the disappointment these closures will cause not only to our own Catholic community, but to many of our fellow-Christians and those of other faiths in Scotland. We wish to emphasise again the spiritual, social and psychological benefits provided by continuing public worship, and we ask for these to be taken into full account in future decisions. Public worship is a human right and is a duty humanity owes to God.  More concretely, Catholics need the Eucharist and the Sacramental encounter with the LORD as necessary to their spiritual wellbeing and their ultimate salvation.

While we unequivocally share the common goal of protecting public health, we urge the Scottish Government, when the present measures are reviewed later in January, to reconsider these restrictions in the light of the above concerns.” 

ENDS

 
Scotland’s Catholic Bishops publish letter of hope. - 07 December 2020

In a National Pastoral Letter to Scotland’s Catholic community, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland have highlighted “reasons for hope, as we live through these difficult times”. The document, suggests society has begun to rediscover universal human dignity, pointing out that when citizens were asked “to make difficult and prolonged sacrifices for the sake of the most vulnerable and they willingly responded.” The letter describes this genuine concern for the vulnerable as “obvious and beautiful”.

The letter goes on to hope, that “the love and compassion we have shown amid so much suffering and death in recent months (might) now become a way of life and that love of neighbour might now “become the vital principle of our culture”.

The document also addresses; Medical Care of the Sick and Vulnerable, the economy and vaccines. The bishops welcome the news of vaccine approvals and “hope this will allow an early immunisation programme to protect our population and offer the prospect of some return to normal life.” In response to ethical concerns raised about the vaccines, the bishops “reassure our Catholic population that, in accordance with longstanding guidance from the Pontifical Academy for Life, it is ethical to take any of the C19 vaccines purchased by the UK at the present time, either because foetal cell lines have not been used in their development or because their sourcing is sufficiently remote.”

The Pastoral Letter observes, that “Just as the nations of the world have been required to collaborate to respond effectively to the virus, so too in our own society we must work together for a better future as we rebuild after the Pandemic.” 

The document will be distributed to all of Scotland’s 500 parishes.

CLICK HERE to read this document

 
National Safeguarding Co-ordinator appointed to a new post - 02 December 2020

Tina Campbell, the National Safeguarding Co-ordinator for the Catholic Church in Scotland, has recently been appointed assistant co-ordinator of the Promotion of a Consistent Culture of Protection, a project funded by the Society of Jesus,  following her successful application for this global post. This change will take effect from 31st December 2020. 

The Bishops congratulate Tina on this prestigious appointment and wish her every happiness and success in this new post.  They thank her for her service to the Church at a national level over the last seven years when much has been achieved to improve the Church’s Safeguarding approach. We are sure that she will continue this work at a global level.

Prior to Tina’s announcement, the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland had launched a review of all its offices, commissions and agencies, including the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Service.  Pending the conclusion of this review, interim arrangements have been made to ensure that there will be adequate support for the work of all Church personnel who manage Safeguarding across Dioceses, Religious Congregations and Catholic organisations.  

The Bishops of Scotland look forward to continue building on the effective contribution of Tina Campbell  and renew their commitment to the importance of Safeguarding in the Catholic Church. 

 
UK Borders Agency

UKBA Sponsorship logo

Information for anyone seeking to welcome a non-European national to the United Kingdom to work with groups associated with the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Since November 2008 the Priests for Scotland office has been administering the Points Based System (PBS) on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.  The Bishops’ Conference is licensed to issue Certificates of Sponsorship under the Migrant Religious Worker Category, tier two and tier five. The legislation behind the points based system means that compliance with this system is a legal requirement for anyone involved in the introduction of migrant workers even when those workers are unsalaried. Under UKBA legislation priests, religious, or pastoral workers are considered as Migrant Workers. Failure to comply with this legislation may result in prosecution.

This legislation involves any group within the Church that seeks to invite a non-European national to the United Kingdom. All visitors need to have the immigration status consistent with the work that they wish to carry out. Each diocese has a diocesan coordinator for UKBA who will be happy to advise. Alternatively you may wish to contact the Priests for Scotland office 0141 942 8384.

Funding

Can you give something extra?

The Services offered by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland are provided free of charge. The General Secretariat and other agencies depend entirely on the generosity of the Catholic population who give financial support through their dioceses and directly to agencies. If you would like to help with the costs of running the Bishops' Conference your added generosity would be greatly appreciated. If you can help please contact us. Catholic National Endowment Trust also known as The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a Charity Registered in Scotland (Number: SCO 16650)

Links

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