The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

29th April 2026

29 April 2026

Bishops' Conference of Scotland welcomes dismissal of "buffer zone" charges against Rose Docherty in Glasgow

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland welcomes Sheriff Stuart Reid’s dismissal of two criminal charges alleging “influencing” within a “buffer zone” against Rose Docherty, brought under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024.

Mrs Docherty was arrested last September near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after offering a consensual conversation and holding a sign reading: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want”.

On Monday, Sheriff Reid dismissed the case against Rose, finding that the Procurator Fiscal had “failed to disclose an offence known to the law of Scotland”.

Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland welcomes the court’s decision to dismiss the charges brought against Rose Docherty. The ruling is an important reminder that peaceful, consensual conversation in a public place is protected, and that criminal offences must be clearly and properly made out on the evidence. This case should prompt a careful and thorough review of how "safe access zone” powers are applied so that they do not infringe fundamental rights."

20th March 2026

20 March 2026

Statement from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Following a request from the Holy See, the Bishops of Scotland have been invited to reflect on how the structures of the Church in our country can best serve her mission in the years ahead, specifically whether the present situation of eight dioceses is suitable.

We are all aware of the challenges before us — fewer clergy, changing patterns of practice, and increasing pressures on our diocesan resources, among other things. Yet our mission remains unchanged: to proclaim the Gospel and to lead our people to Christ.

Two possible pathways are being proposed for careful discernment: developing deeper cooperation and the sharing of resources across dioceses within our present structures, or the merging of some dioceses.

In order to best inform ourselves and the Holy See, each bishop will engage with his diocese over the coming months for the first part of this process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pray, reflect, and contribute.

Following-on from the presentation of a discussion paper, responses from each diocese will contribute to the initial findings which will be given to the Holy See in the Autumn.

This is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a pastoral and missionary response to our changing landscape. This process will ensure our Church in Scotland will continue to grow ever more missionary, more Christ-centred, and more collaborative in the service of God’s people.

Entrusting this work to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Our Lady, we move forward together with confidence and renewed hope.

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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News from the Commissions and Agencies

May 2026

04May

Gospel

04 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Gospel
John 14:21-26
‘The Helper, whom the Father will send, he will teach you all things.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.’

04May

Holy Mass of Monday of the Fifth Sunday of Easter | 04 May 2026

04 May, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of Monday of the Fifth Sunday of Easter | 04 May 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

03May

Gospel

03 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
John 14:1-12
‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.’

03May

Holy Mass of the Fifth Sunday of Easter | 03 May 2026

03 May, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Fifth Sunday of Easter | 03 May 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

02May

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint Athanasius | 02 May 2026

02 May, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint Athanasius | 02 May 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

02May

Athanasius of Alexandria lived a life marked by both turmoil and deep commitment to the Church

02 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Athanasius of Alexandria lived a life marked by both turmoil and deep commitment to the Church. He became one of the foremost defenders of Christian belief against Arianism, a teaching associated with Arius that denied the full divinity of Jesus. His powerful and persistent writings later earned him recognition as a Doctor of the Church.

Born into a Christian family in Alexandria and educated in classical learning, Athanasius became secretary to Alexander of Alexandria. He was ordained a priest and eventually succeeded him as bishop. Alexander had already opposed the growing influence of Arianism, a struggle Athanasius would inherit and intensify.

As bishop, Athanasius continued this defence of orthodox teaching. Although it initially seemed that Arianism would be swiftly defeated, events unfolded differently. The Council of Tyre led to his exile by Constantine the Great to northern Gaul—one of several exiles he would endure, echoing in some ways the missionary hardships of Paul the Apostle.

After Constantine’s death, his son briefly restored Athanasius to his position, but he was soon removed again by Arian supporters. He appealed to Rome, where Pope Julius I convened a synod to examine the case.

In total, Athanasius was exiled five times because of his unwavering defence of Christ’s divinity. Yet during a period of about ten years, he experienced relative peace, dedicating himself to writing, teaching, and encouraging a form of Christian life inspired by monastic ideals.

Much of his theological and historical work was written in direct opposition to Arianism. Among his spiritual writings, his biography of Anthony the Great became widely influential, helping to spread monasticism throughout the Western Church.

02May

Gospel

02 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
John 14:7-14
‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.’

01May

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker | 01 May 2026

01 May, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker | 01 May 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

01May

Gospel John 14:1-6

01 May, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Gospel John 14:1-6
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house;
if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am
you may be too.
You know the way to the place where I am going.’
Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said:
‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’

April 2026

30Apr

Pope Leo's prayer intention for May 2026

30 Apr, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Pope Leo's prayer intention for May 2026

That everyone might have food
Let us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.