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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

9th September 2026

9 September 2026

Justice & Peace Scotland Statement on UK Measures Against Illegal Israeli Settlements

Justice & Peace Scotland welcomes the announcement by the UK Government of a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, alongside further sanctions targeting those involved in settlement expansion and settler violence.

We particularly welcome the Government’s recognition that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and that settlement expansion and settler violence are contributing to the displacement of Palestinian communities. Today’s use of economic and diplomatic measures to uphold international law is a positive and long-awaited step towards holding Israel accountable for its repeated breaches of international obligations.

Through our participation in the Holy Land Coordination, we have witnessed the impact of settlement expansion and settler violence first-hand. In 2025, we met Daoud Nassar of the Tent of Nations farm in Bethlehem, whose family has spent decades defending the ownership of their land. The farm is surrounded by Israeli settlements and the family face constant violence, vandalism and repeated attempts to dispossess them. In 2026, in Taybeh, members of the parish of Christ the Redeemer told us of homes and property being attacked and of farmland and olive trees being damaged by settlers in an attempt to drive them from their land. These experiences demonstrate the very real consequences of settlement expansion for Palestinian communities.

Equal rights, security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis cannot be achieved without accountability and respect for the international legal framework. Measures such as those announced should therefore be encouraged as a means of addressing injustice and helping to break the cycle of violence and loss of life for all who live there.

We continue to call for measures to address conflict that are consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel’s call to nonviolence. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly emphasised the need for peace founded on justice and respect for the dignity of every person.

The announcement is a hugely welcome and much-needed step, but the UK Government must continue to use all appropriate diplomatic, economic and legal mechanisms to uphold international law and prevent further settlement expansion.

We pray for all people living in the Holy Land and for a future in which Palestinians and Israelis can live with equal rights, security, dignity and lasting peace.

...ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Justice & Peace Scotland (https://www.justiceandpeacescotland.org.uk) is a Catholic agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland who campaign, educate and advocate on issues relating to international peace, human rights, social justice, and care for creation.
The Holy Land Coordination is an annual meeting of a delegation of European and American bishops in the Holy Land (Palestine, Israel, Jordan), mandated by the Holy See. The delegation visits the region to act in solidarity with the region’s Christian communities and share in the pastoral life of the local Church as it experiences extreme political and social-economic pressure. Bishops are accompanied by church agencies and church-affiliated organisations. Justice & Peace Scotland has participated in HLC 2025 and 2026.
Justice & Peace Scotland are available for further comment and interview: Anne-Marie Richmond, Catholic Social Teaching Engagement Officer: 07789193370, [email protected]
For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office. Email: [email protected]

Images:

IMAGE 1 - Depicts Israeli settlements viewed from the Tent of Nations farm, Bethlehem, Palestine. Credit: AM Richmond, Justice & Peace Scotland

IMAGE 2: Cross and Palestinian flag above Christian church, West Bank, Palestine. Credit: Marcin Mazur, CBCEW

8th September 2026

8 September 2026

Proposed Abortion Motion Raises Profound Ethical Concerns

It is deeply troubling to hear that SNP members may be asked to vote on a motion seeking to remove legal protections relating to self-administered abortion in Scotland. Human life possesses inherent dignity and worth from conception until natural death, and any proposal that would further weaken safeguards for unborn children, including abortion up to the point of birth and sex-selective abortion, raises profound moral and ethical concerns.

I urge the SNP, and all parties and politicians, to uphold both compassion for women facing difficult pregnancies and protection for the most vulnerable members of our human family. Rather than expanding access to abortion, Scotland should focus on providing practical support to mothers, children and families, ensuring that no woman feels alone or without alternatives.

What the people of Scotland need now is for government, political parties and MSPs to focus on the priorities that affect daily life: easing the cost-of-living pressures facing households, addressing the housing crisis, strengthening local health services, improving access to high-quality palliative care, and working for peace and reconciliation both at home and abroad. We do not need an extreme abortion law. Scotland deserves better.

Anthony Horan
Director
Catholic Parliamentary Office
Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

...ENDS

Notes for editors

Photo of Anthony Horan, Director of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office: Photo of Anthony Horan
The Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office works on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, by engaging with politicians and policymakers on matters central to the life and mission of the Catholic Church.
For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office, Email: [email protected]

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

21st August 2026

21 August 2026

Final appeal to Catholics ahead of Westminster assisted suicide vote

Bishop John Keenan has issued a pastoral letter urging Catholics across Scotland to contact their MPs ahead of the return of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the House of Commons on Friday 11 September.

The Bill, reintroduced by Lauren Edwards MP, would permit eligible terminally ill adults in England and Wales to receive assistance to end their lives. A similar Bill was defeated in the Scottish Parliament last March.

Although this new legislation would apply only to England and Wales, Bishop Keenan stresses that this remains an important moment for Catholics in Scotland. The outcome at Westminster could have significant consequences north of the border and potentially reignite attempts to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland.

In his letter, Bishop Keenan describes the coming vote as a “grave moment for the protection of human life” and urges Catholics to contact their MPs “without delay” and ask them to oppose the Bill.

Bishop Keenan said:

“Our opposition to assisted suicide is rooted in compassion. Every person, from conception until natural death, possesses an inviolable dignity as one made in the image and likeness of God.”

Warning particularly of the potential consequences for vulnerable people, he added:

“Illness, frailty, disability, dependence or fear must never lead society to conclude that some lives are no longer worth living.”

The Bishop calls instead for greater investment in palliative and hospice care and better support for carers, insisting that “the proper response to suffering is care, presence, skilled palliative medicine and practical support—not the deliberate ending of life.”

Scotland’s Catholic bishops encourage all who stand on the side of life to contact their MP today and without delay, asking them to protect vulnerable people, support better palliative and hospice care, and vote against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

...ENDS

Notes to Editor

Photo of the Bishop John Keenan: https://www.bcos.org.uk/portals/0/@publications/photos/bishop%20john%20keenan.gif

Pastoral Letter from Bishop Keenan: https://www.bcos.org.uk/portals/0/@publications/letters/Pastoral Letter - Assisted Suicide Westminster - August 2026.pdf

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCoS) is the assembly of the Catholic bishops of Scotland, working together on national pastoral, social and legislative matters on behalf of the Church. Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office. Email: [email protected]

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by tag: Justice & Peace ScotlandReturn

July 2026

29Jul

🇻🇦 "MAY BELIEVERS AND PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL NEVER STOP WORKING AS BUILDERS OF PEACE." - Pope Leo XIV

29 Jul, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

🇻🇦 "MAY BELIEVERS AND PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL NEVER STOP WORKING AS BUILDERS OF PEACE." - Pope Leo XIV

Christians from across Scotland will gather at Faslane this coming Saturday for the annual 'No to Nuclear Weapons' Peace Witness Vigil.

Organised by Justice & Peace Scotland and held in collaboration with the Church of Scotland, the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Iona Community, Quakers in Britain, and Pax Christi Scotland the event brings Christians together to pray for nuclear disarmament around the world as an essential step towards world peace, to protect human life, and to safeguard God's creation.

The Vigil is led by Most Rev. William Nolan, president of Justice & Peace Scotland and Archbishop of Glasgow; Right Rev. Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; and Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

In his newly published book, 'Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift', Pope Leo calls Christians and all people of good will to reject the logic of violence and become builders of peace. In the same book he writes:

"It is not atomic weapons that generate peace, but disarmament."

As wars continue and investment in nuclear weapons grows, we'll gather to affirm that true peace and security is built not on nuclear deterrence but on dialogue, diplomacy and the upholding of international law.

If you've been thinking about coming along to one of our vigils, we'd invite you to join us this weekend to answer the Holy Father's call to be builders of peace.

🗓️ Saturday 1st August
🕚 11.00am–12.30pm
📍 North Gate, HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane)

🚌 Free coach travel is available from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

📧 To reserve your seat, email: [email protected]

Please include:
🔹 Your name
🔹 Pick-up point (Edinburgh or Glasgow)
🔹 Number of seats required

🚆If you’re travelling independently, take the train to Helensburgh Central, then the hourly 316 bus to Faslane.

🕊️We look forward to welcoming you to pray and act for peace.

March 2026

19Mar

🕊️PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

19 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🕊️PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

Pope Leo has appealed for a ceasefire and renewed dialogue in the Middle East, reminding the world that true peace can never be built through violence. In a time of deep suffering and uncertainty, we are called to stand in solidarity with all those affected by conflict not only in the Middle East but in every place where war and injustice persist.

As we reflect on his words, “Violence can never lead to the justice, the stability and the peace that peoples are awaiting,” we invite you to join us in prayer for the pursuit of peace. May hearts be softened, leaders be guided by wisdom, and pathways of diplomacy, dialogue, and just peace be opened where there is division.

🙏LET US PRAY:

God of peace and justice,
you created every human person in your image
and called us to live as one family.

We bring before you the people of the Middle East,
especially those living in fear, grief, and uncertainty.
Comfort the wounded, shelter the displaced,
and welcome those who have lost their lives into your mercy.

Soften hearts hardened by anger and hatred.
Inspire leaders to choose dialogue over destruction,
to seek justice over power,
and to work tirelessly for a lasting and just peace.

Strengthen all who build bridges of reconciliation,
who speak truth with courage,
and who refuse to give in to despair.

We pray, too, for all places torn by conflict across the world.
May violence give way to reconciliation,
division to unity,
and fear to hope.

Make each of us an instrument of your peace,
that in our words and actions
we may reflect your love in the world.
Amen.

17Mar

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

17 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

MSPs can be confident that they have taken the correct and responsible course of action. Their vote serves to protect some of Scotland’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of being pressured into a premature death.

Every human life possesses inherent value. Genuine compassion is not expressed through ending a life, but through accompanying those who suffer and ensuring they receive the medical, emotional, and spiritual support that recognises their dignity. No life is without worth.

As a society, our responsibility is not to address suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to surround each person with care, respect, and dignity until their natural end. Today’s decision moves Scotland further in that direction, and MSPs should be commended for this.

However, we must continue to make progress. Our next priority must be to strengthen palliative care by ensuring that it is properly funded and accessible to all who require it.

I would like to express my gratitude to all MSPs for their serious engagement with this issue and for the thoughtful and considered attention they have given to the bill. I am especially grateful to those who upheld the principle of human dignity and advocated on behalf of the vulnerable. Your principled commitment has not gone unnoticed.

Bishop John Keenan
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

11Mar

As the final vote approaches at Holyrood next week, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland urge you to contact your MSP asking them to...

11 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

As the final vote approaches at Holyrood next week, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland urge you to contact your MSP asking them to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

All information and links you need are in the post below. ⬇️

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has expressed deep concern over the Scottish Government’s response to proposed amendments to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The amendments, tabled by John Mason MSP and Paul O’Kane MSP, seek to introduce provisions allowing organisations—including hospices, care homes, and faith‑based institutions—to exercise conscientious objection.

In its response to these reasonable amendments, the Scottish Government stated that “it is not clear how an institution might demonstrate what their ‘conscience’ position is.”

The Bishops’ Conference strongly disagrees with this position, noting that every organisation has guiding values that shape its mission and practice.

For many faith‑based organisations, including Catholic hospices and care homes, these values are fundamentally incompatible with the introduction of assisted suicide. The Bishops’ Conference maintains that no organisation should be compelled by the State to participate in the deliberate ending of life when doing so would violate its ethical or religious principles.

The Bishops’ Conference urges the Scottish Government and MSPs to recognise and respect institutional conscience rights, ensuring that organisations are not forced into actions that contradict their foundational values.

Bishop John Keenan,
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

10Mar

Photos from Justice & Peace Scotland's post

10 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

✝️TURNING FAITH INTO ACTION: PUPILS RESPOND TO DILEXI TE

"Tackling Poverty in Scotland: Responding to Dilexi Te" recently brought together more than 30 pupils and teachers in Glasgow to explore how faith can be translated into meaningful action on poverty.

Inspired by the publication of Pope Leo’s first apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, which calls Christians to love the poor and work for the eradication of poverty, the event invited pupils to deepen their understanding of poverty in Scotland, Catholic Social Teaching, and in campaigning and advocacy.

The conference, organised by Justice & Peace Scotland and the Society of St Vincent de Paul Scotland (SSVP Scotland), welcomed Senior Vinnies from the Archdiocese of Glasgow and from Motherwell Diocese. Senior Vinnies are SSVP groups for pupils in secondary schools across Scotland.

The day began with an input from The Poverty Alliance, grounding pupils in key facts and statistics about poverty in Scotland. Real-life case studies brought these issues to life, while a household budgeting activity helped pupils grasp the daily challenges faced by those living on a low income.

Students then reflected on Dilexi Te and how Pope Leo calls on us to protect the marginalised and demand structural change to end poverty, before building practical skills in advocacy and campaigning. They ended the day by working together to plan projects to deliver in their schools in partnership with SSVP Scotland and J&P Scotland.

Many thanks to Archbishop Nolan, President of J&P Scotland, who came along to meet the pupils and to Sister Maria Robb, the Spiritual Director for SSVP Scotland, who facilitated the opening prayers and led pupils in spiritual reflection on love and action for those experiencing poverty.

Though this was a pilot conference, it proved a real success: 100% of participants said they felt better equipped to take action on poverty in Scotland - a hopeful sign for the future! ✨

06Mar

💜 Lenten Action Challenge – Week 2: Keeping Refugee Families Together

06 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

💜 Lenten Action Challenge – Week 2: Keeping Refugee Families Together

✍️For Week 2 of our Lenten Challenge we invite you to take one small action to stand with refugees and defend their right to family life by signing Safe Passage International's petition to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, asking her to keep families 'Together Not Torn'.

🚫Last year the UK Government suspended the Refugee Family Reunion route - the main pathway allowing people who have been granted refugee status in the UK to reunite with their partners and children. This decision has already left many families separated indefinitely.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Family reunion is a vital humanitarian route to protection from war and persecution. 92% of those who use it in the UK are women and children, joining family members who have already reached safety here. Removing safe routes like this risks further pushing vulnerable people towards dangerous journeys.

💔There are now plans to replace the current system with a more restrictive scheme, which could keep families separated, only deepening the uncertainty and trauma already impacting their lives. This could leave women and children in protracted states of limbo, living in camps or in dangerous circumstances, unable to join their partners and fathers who have made the initial journey to find safety in the UK.

🇻🇦The right to family life is protected in international human rights law, and Catholic Social Teaching recognises the family as the fundamental unit of society. Pope Francis repeatedly called on governments to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants and refugees. Likewise, Pope Leo XIV has affirmed that hospitality, compassion and solidarity should shape the Church’s response to migrants and refugees, encouraging Christians to welcome them as brothers and sisters and accompany them in their journeys.

📧 THE ACTION
That’s why we’re asking supporters to email the Home Secretary calling for the suspension of Refugee Family Reunion to be lifted and for the UK to protect, not curtail, safe routes that allow families to reunite.

WHAT TO DO:
1️⃣ Click the link to the email in the comments below.
2️⃣ Send the pre-written email to the Home Secretary.
3️⃣Share this post and action with others.

💜Defending the right to family life is one way we can stand alongside people seeking safety and help ensure that compassion and justice shape the policies that affect them. Keeping families together helps people recover from trauma, rebuild their lives, and integrate into their communities.

03Mar

JUSTICE & PEACE SCOTLAND AND JUSTICE & PEACE EUROPE STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

03 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

JUSTICE & PEACE SCOTLAND AND JUSTICE & PEACE EUROPE STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Justice & Peace Scotland condemns the recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as the retaliatory attacks occurring across Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Israel. This cycle of violence only serves to spread instability and grief throughout the region, breaching international law and placing innocent civilians, especially children, in grave danger.

These hostilities and the reactionary strikes that have followed demonstrate that genuine peace and security can never be achieved through bombing campaigns. True security must instead be sought through dialogue, diplomacy, negotiation, and an unwavering respect for the sacred dignity of every human person. As we witness further amplification of the growing spiral of violence in the region, we call for an immediate de-escalation and a return to the path of non-violence to protect the common good of the entire human family.

As a member Commission of Justice & Peace Europe we fully support and echo the statement issued by the Co-Presidents of J&P Europe on March 2nd, 2026:

"As Co-Presidents of Justice & Peace Europe, we wish to express our profound concern over the ongoing spiral of violence currently afflicting Iran and the broader Middle East region.

"We particularly hold in our hearts the affected populations in Iran and across the region who now undergo yet another trial, following years of tribulation and distress.

"No country, however powerful, should place itself above the core principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Mutual threats and the use of weapons can never constitute a lasting solution to conflicts. On the contrary, they only amplify them: they deepen resentment and hatred, destabilise entire regions and erode the very foundations of global peace and security.

"In the face of a tragedy of immense proportions, the present escalation reflects a confrontational logic that increasingly dominates global politics, rather than adherence to the principles of legitimate defence, which require that all possible peaceful means be exhausted before recourse to force as a last resort.

"We join Pope Leo XIV in his heartfelt appeal to “all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence” and to return to the path of “reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue.” Only diplomacy that safeguards the “well-being of peoples who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice” can sustain hope for a future grounded in mutual respect, cooperation and stability.

"We call upon the European Union and the international community to engage in tireless and united efforts towards de-escalation and the full respect of international law, including international humanitarian law. Respect for the inherent dignity of every human person and particular concern for the poorest and most vulnerable must remain at the heart of these efforts.

"The good of the people — those living in the Middle East, those temporarily present there, and all who suffer the wider consequences of this conflict — must prevail over every political, strategic or economic consideration.

"In this time of Lent, let us especially pray for peace: a peace that is both ‘disarmed and disarming’, capable of touching the hearts of those entrusted with responsibility for the common good. May the Middle East, and indeed the entire world, finally embark upon the path that leads to justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.

Dijon/Copenhagen, 2 March 2026

+Antoine Hérouard
(Co-President, Justice & Peace Europe)

Maria Hammershoy
(Co-President, Justice & Peace Europe)

03Mar

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

03 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON THE ASSISTED DYING BILL

🔹Read and share the post below.
🔹Use the link and information provided to contact your MSP.

February 2026

27Feb

📰NEWS JUST IN

27 Feb, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📰NEWS JUST IN

Our latest quarterly newsletter is now available, featuring updates on our work across the country and practical ways for you to get involved in upcoming campaigns and events.

🌟Highlights in this edition:
🔹Journals from Jerusalem Update: Insights from the 2026 Holy Land Coordination visit to Jerusalem, where J&P Scotland’s Anne-Marie Clements accompanied Archbishop William Nolan on the annual visit to the region.
🔹Lenten Challenge: Commit to our six-week Lenten Action Challenge, with weekly steps focusing on poverty, refugees, and workers' rights.
🔹Take Action: Find tools to contact your MP regarding the proposed ban on aid agencies in Gaza and on the practice of indefinite immigration detention in the UK.

➡️Find the full newsletter on our website!

26Feb

🕊️ Lenten Action Challenge - Week 1: Transforming Poverty

26 Feb, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🕊️ Lenten Action Challenge - Week 1: Transforming Poverty

For Week 1 of our Lenten Challenge we invite you to take one small action to tackle poverty in Scotland. As members of The Poverty Alliance, Justice & Peace Scotland stands with over 280 organisations to demand a Scotland where everyone is treated with dignity.

In his recent encyclical Dilexi Te, Pope Leo XIV calls us to move beyond vague compassion to concrete action on poverty. He reminds us that we are all responsible for all and that our faith is nothing without action.

📧THE ACTION
We are asking all our supporters to send The Poverty Alliance’s 2026 Manifesto to their current MSPs and prospective election candidates.

🛣️WHY SHOULD YOU SEND IT?
Because 1 in 5 people in Scotland are currently held back by poverty, preventing them from living full lives worthy of their human dignity. The Poverty Alliance’s manifesto lays out a clear roadmap to turn the tide on poverty - now our politicians must find the political will to act.

☑️KEY ASKS:
🔹A Minimum Income Guarantee: Ensuring no one in Scotland falls below the income needed to live a dignified life.
🔹Fair Work: Encouraging all employers to adopt the real Living Wage.
🔹Dignified Social Security: Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £55 per week to lift 20,000 children out of poverty.
🔹Stronger Public Services: Delivering universal free school breakfasts and lunches for all pupils.

WHAT TO DO:
1️⃣Download the Manifesto from the homepage of The Poverty Alliance website.
2️⃣Email your candidates: Attach the PDF with a message asking: "As a voter, I want to know - how will you work to achieve these aims if elected?"

💜By turning our energy from indifference to advocacy this Lent, we can begin the essential work of dismantling the unjust social structures Pope Leo calls us to confront in Dilex Te.