The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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.

Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40
‘You shall love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.’

At that time: When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’

Today the Church celebrates Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, one of the most influential figures in the Church of the 12th century.

Born in Burgundy in 1090, Bernard entered the monastery of Cîteaux as a young man, accompanied by a remarkable number of relatives and friends whom he had inspired to embrace the monastic life.

Only a few years later, Bernard was sent to establish a new monastery at Clairvaux, the “Valley of Light”, where he became abbot. Under his leadership, Clairvaux flourished and became a centre of the Cistercian renewal, which sought a simpler and more faithful observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Although Bernard longed for the quiet life of prayer and contemplation, his wisdom and influence increasingly drew him into the affairs of the wider Church. He advised popes and bishops, helped resolve disputes and played an important role in ending a serious schism within the Church.

Bernard was also a gifted theologian, Scripture scholar and preacher. At the heart of his spirituality was a profound love for Jesus Christ and a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His sermons and writings on prayer, humility, love and the spiritual life continue to influence Christians today.

At the request of Pope Eugene III, a former monk of Clairvaux, Bernard preached in support of the Second Crusade. Its eventual failure caused him considerable sorrow and remains a complex and difficult part of his legacy.

Despite his enormous influence across Europe, Bernard remained at heart a monk who desired a life centred upon God.

He died at Clairvaux on 20 August 1153. He was canonised in 1174 and, in 1830, Pope Pius VIII declared him a Doctor of the Church.

Saint Bernard reminds us that a life of contemplation and prayer is not a withdrawal from the needs of the Church and the world, but can become the source of faithful service to both.

🙏 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us.

𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

Scotland’s Catholic bishops have joined other religious leaders in welcoming a new £1 million fund to cover the cost of repairs to listed buildings in Scotland.

Bishop John Keenan, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland, and Rt. Rev. Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said the money will provide much-needed support to maintain historically significant assets at the heart of community life.

The Scotland Places of Worship Fund will open this autumn to help congregations – from any faith group or denomination – recover VAT costs associated with repair works if they worship in a listed building.

The pilot scheme was developed in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme earlier this year, which sent shockwaves throughout faith communities.

The Scottish Churches Leaders’ Forum and the Scottish Churches Committee urged the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure that listed places of worship are not disproportionately affected by the decision to end the grant scheme in Scotland.

Church members were invited to write to their local elected representatives asking them to lobby the Scottish Government to launch a substitute scheme to ease the financial pressure on congregations.

The money will be made available through the existing Historic Environment Scotland (HES) grants budget and is a standalone scheme.

Bishop Keenan said: “We warmly welcome Historic Environment Scotland's announcement of the Places of Worship Fund pilot for Scotland, which recognises the vital contribution that churches and other places of worship make to Scotland's heritage and community life.”

“The fund will provide much-needed support for the care and conservation of these important buildings, helping to address the loss of the previous UK-wide scheme.”

“We look forward to engaging constructively with Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government as the pilot progresses and to discussions on establishing a permanent, sustainable funding arrangement for the future.”

Commenting on the announcement, the Rt. Rev. Gordon Kennedy said:

“I’m very grateful for the support of HES and the Scottish Government in recognising the importance of places of worship, which are so often cherished by people beyond members of the congregation.”

“We know how difficult it is for communities to lose their place of worship, and support for repairs and maintenance will help keep more places warm, wind and watertight, and it makes it just a wee bit easier for local volunteers to care for these historic assets.”

Religious leaders are encouraging eligible parishes and communities to consider applying when the fund opens for applications later this year. Detailed information can be found at:

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/hes-launches-pilot-fund-to-support-scotlands-historic-places-of-worship/

Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
‘Do you begrudge my generosity?’

At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market-place, and to them he said, “You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.” So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, “Why do you stand here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You go into the vineyard too.”
‘And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, “Call the labourers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.” And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” So the last will be first, and the first last.’