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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.

Being Catholic TV

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

At Christmas, Christians across Scotland gathered around the crib to contemplate the life of a vulnerable child; God entering our world as a baby in need of care, protection and love. Christmas places fragile human life at the centre of everything.
It is therefore unsettling that this season saw the first person in Scotland charged under the new so-called “buffer zone” law in Scotland; a law the Church believes curtails Scotland’s commitment to freedom of expression and conscience, and restricts critical voices from democratic debate in the public square.
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 establishes “buffer zones” of up to 200 metres around abortion facilities — currently around 30 locations across Scotland. Within those zones, any conduct deemed to “influence” a decision about abortion may be criminalised. That vague description should trouble anyone who values legal clarity or free expression.
The Catholic Church does not condone harassment or intimidation, but that was not the intention of this law. The Church has been clear: harassment, intimidation and obstruction are wrong and unacceptable. But Scotland already has robust laws to deal with harassment, public disorder and threatening behaviour and it is telling that, when consulted on the proposed new law, Police Scotland did not ask for more powers, and went as far to state in written evidence to Parliament that, “existing powers and offences are sufficient to address any unlawful behaviour in the vicinity of healthcare premises.” When parliaments introduce criminal offences where existing law is already sufficient, questions should be raised and alarm bells ring.
We oppose this law because it is disproportionate and undemocratic. It represents state overreach and curtails basic freedoms. The Church would similarly oppose legislation mandating buffer zones outside nuclear weapons facilities or refugee detention centres. This should concern every Scottish citizen, regardless of their views on abortion.
As the Parliamentary Officer for the Catholic Church in Scotland pointed out, women experiencing crisis pregnancies may be “denied the opportunity to freely speak to people and organisations who may be able to help them.” A law supposedly designed to protect choice risks doing the opposite — eliminating one side of a conversation and one set of choices altogether.
Even more troubling is what the legislation anticipates. Official documentation accompanying the Act acknowledges that the law envisages criminalising “praying audibly” and “silent vigils."
This is unprecedented in modern Scotland, and it is no wonder it has raised eyebrows around the world, with concerns raised around Scotland’s commitment to human rights and freedom of expression and religion.
The implications go further. The Act extends to private homes within designated zones. A pro-life poster displayed in a window, a conversation overheard, a prayer said by a window; all could, in principle, fall within the scope of criminal sanction. When asked directly whether praying by a window in your own home could constitute an offence, Gillian Mackay, the Scottish Green Party MSP, who spearheaded the legislation, replied: “That depends on who’s passing the window.” That sends a chill down the spine of anyone who cares about civil liberties. Criminal law that depends on the perception of a passer-by is certainly not the hallmark of a free Scottish society.
The law also potentially criminalises a person standing alone in a buffer zone without any visible expression of protest, but who is deemed by others to be offering a silent pro-life inspired prayer. Even Police Scotland expressed unease. Superintendent Gerry Corrigan told Parliament that policing thought is an area they “would stay clear of,” adding: “I do not think we could go down the road of asking people what they are thinking or what their thoughts are. That feels really uncomfortable.” Yet, this is the territory into which Scottish law now ventures. Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference, noted that “none of the arguments made were able to get around the basic premise that Police Scotland had never asked for more powers.” and that the law is “draconian” and “unnecessary,” particularly considering its impact on people of faith.
Some parliamentarians attempted to mitigate the effects of the law— proposing a reasonableness defence, or exemptions for chaplains who might be criminalised for pastoral conversations. All amendments were rejected or withdrawn.
We support all those who, motivated by conscience and compassion, stand up for the right to life. It cannot be a crime to give our voice and our prayers to the unborn.
Christmas is the message that every human life has infinite dignity from its beginning. That truth is not confined to private thoughts. A society confident in its values does not fear opposing voices. It does not criminalise silent prayer. It does not ask its police or judges to peer into the minds of its citizens.
Scotland’s buffer zones law represents a profound shift in the relationship between the State and the individual — one that restricts free speech, free expression and freedom of religion in ways that should concern us all.
As we look to the child in the manger this Christmas and Epiphany, we are reminded that babies do not have a voice of their own. It is a shame that the State has now also curtailed the voices of ordinary citizens who advocate for them within its borders.
The Catholic Bishops of Scotland
6th January 2026

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn
July 2024



This document is a high-level summary and draws on Integral Human Development to outline a vision for the Loss and Damage fund which will truly deliver holistic solutions for people.

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6 July 2024
Dear Prime Minister
On behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and the Scottish Catholic community, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I was pleased to note your intent to create a government of service to all and wish you well in this noble endeavour.
The Bishops of Scotland are acutely aware of the challenges our country, and the wider world, currently face, not least the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land, and the continuing difficulties faced by the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
May I assure you, your family, and the government you lead, of my prayers as you confront these many challenges.

Yours sincerely,

Bishop Hugh Gilbert
Bishop of Aberdeen
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland



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


Saint Benedict is known as the Father of Western Monasticism due to his great influence on the shape and character of monastic life in the West. Living the life of a hermit, others witnessed his lifestyle and wanted to follow.

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🌱SEASON OF CREATION CONFERENCE 2024

Join the Bishops' Conference of Scotland's Care For Creation Office for the Season Of Creation Conference 2024.

📅Sat 7th September 2024
📍St. Margaret’s, Raploch, Stirling
📝Booking is essential but free: tinyurl.com/46wmt9ah

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation. This year's theme is "hope and act for creation". The Care of Creation Office is hosting the Conference to allow parishioners from across the country to come together and explore how we may hope and act for creation in our own dioceses and parishes and how we can act on the message of Pope Francis to care for our common home.

➡️Share with any interested friends, parishioners, parish groups and Laudato Si networks - and we hope to see you on Sat 7th September!

Many thanks everyone,



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“This Is a Sin That Cries to Heaven for Vengeance”: His Beatitude Sviatoslav Condemns Russian Missile Attack on Okhmatdyt
On July 8, the Russian aggressor launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine. Notably, one of the buildings of the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital and a private maternity hospital in Kyiv were hit. The Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, called this crime by Russia “a sin that cries to heaven for vengeance.”
“It is horrifying to see that the children who came to save their lives in the artificial kidney center were ruthlessly killed by Russian criminals,” said the Head of the UGCC with deep sadness. Many of them, according to him, were on the verge of death – they were under artificial lung ventilation devices. Many were undergoing surgery at the time. The power outage put their lives in danger.
“In the name of God, with all our resolve, we condemn this crime against humanity,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. “It is not only a crime against human laws and rules, international rules of warfare. This is a sin that cries for vengeance to heaven, according to Christian morality.”
The Head of the UGCC urged all people of good will to join in condemning the crime and do everything possible to stop and prosecute the aggressor.
“Today we cry with all the victims, we pray for all the perished, especially the innocent children. We want to wrap all the wounded with our Christian love, all those who are hurting the most,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The Patriarch also expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and wounded, and thanked the Ukrainian medical workers for their dedication and heroism: “We see them saving lives even with their faces bleeding. At these moments, medical workers and volunteers are standing in a chain and dismantling stones to save more children whose hearts are beating under the rubble.”
“Lord, by Your power, instill in us hope for the protection of the lives of our children and women. Merciful God, bless our long-suffering Ukrainian land with Your just peace!” prayed the Father and Head of the UGCC.
As a result of the enemy missile attack on Kyiv, July 9 was declared a Day of Mourning in the capital. According to the State Emergency Service, as of 3:30 PM, 20 people were killed and 61 others were injured in Kyiv.



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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/dicastery-doctrine-faith-our-lady-rosa-mystica-approval-devotion.html


Based on new regulations, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has expressed its positive opinion regarding the devotion to Our Lady of ...

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/synod-second-session-instrumentum-laboris-women-transparency.html


The Holy See Press Office releases the 'Instrumentum Laboris', the text that will guide the work of the second session of the XVI Ordinary General ...

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https://en.m.w
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Aberdeen


Our Lady of Aberdeen the traditional term for the 14th century Notre Dame du Bon Succès which is now venerated in the Church of Our Lady of Finistère in Brussels, Belgium. Originally venerated in Old Aberdeen, the original statue was hidden at Strathbogie Castle for decades following the 1560 Scot...

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https://www.humandevelopment.va/en/news/2024/messaggio-papa-francesco-giornata-mondiale-di-preghiera-per-creato.html


Pope Francis' Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2024, with the theme " Hope and Act with Creation," was released ...

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