• ayr1
  • edinburgh2
  • ayr2
  • glasgow1
  • edinburgh1
  • paisley1
  • Slider1
  • oban1
  • Slider1
  • fortrose1

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

24th February 2026


24 February 2026

Statement on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill

The Bishops thank the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) and the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office (SCPO) for the considerable work undertaken to present the Church’s strongly held views on this issue.

We recognise a number of important protections which have been secured. Religious Education remains a central part of the curriculum and will continue to be an entitlement for all pupils. In Catholic schools, Religious Education will remain within the authority of the Bishops’ Conference. The Scottish Government has acknowledged the intrinsic nature of Religious Education and Religious Observance in Catholic schools and, despite these being de-coupled in law, has committed to respecting and continuing both. The Government has also committed to involving SCES in drafting the statutory guidance. Furthermore, the retention of the term “Religious Instruction” in law ensures that the Religious Character of Catholic schools is not reduced solely to classroom learning.


However, we are deeply concerned by the decision to grant Scottish Ministers the power to introduce regulations that would permit young people to withdraw from religious observance without parental involvement. Article 14 of the UNCRC is often quoted selectively, overlooking its clear emphasis on the essential role of parents in a child’s religious upbringing. This narrative risks creating a false divide between children’s rights and parental responsibilities. Any future legislation must uphold the UNCRC’s intention to support families, not diminish their role.

We remain deeply concerned at the official policy of the Scottish Greens to impose a fully secular model of state education – an approach that would strip away Scotland’s denominational schools entirely.
We will work firmly and constructively with the Scottish Government to ensure that Catholic schools continue to be protected in law and safeguarded for the communities they serve.


ENDS

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.

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

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn
May 2024
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-at-audience-the-world-needs-christian-hope.html


Pope Francis reflects on the theological virtue of hope as he continues his cycle of catecheses on the vices and the virtues.

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
Does any parish or school oratory need an ambo plus dais or a beautiful tabernacle in need of some refurbishment
Please get in touch







(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-05/rome-parish-priests-synod-synodality-missionaries.html


Vatican News speaks to three of the 300 clergymen who gathered in Rome this week for a conference entitled 'Parish Priests for the Synod'.

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-equipes-notre-dame-movement-couples-marriage-children.html


Pope Francis thanks the Teams of Our Lady International Catholic Movement dedicated to helping Christian couples for their efforts, stressing that ...

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://stpaulcenter.com/audio/sunday-bible-reflections/begotten-by-love-scott-hahn-reflects-on-the-sixth-sunday-of-easter/


God is love, and He revealed that love in sending His only Son to be a sacrificial offering for our sins.In these words from today’s Epistle, we should hear an echo of the story of Abraham’s offering of Isaac at the dawn of salvation history. Because Abraham obeyed God’s command and did no

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbFlqqmKTdA


Experience the resilience and compassion of Palestine's civil society and faith leaders during the "A Normal Life in Palestine" webinar organised by Pax Chri...

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://www.liamfox.co.uk/news/sir-liam-fox-mp-calls-change-outdated-and-discriminative-abortion-law


While the limit on abortion in the UK is 24 weeks gestation, for Down syndrome, it is 40 weeks, right up to full term. With cross party support I will be tabling an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to equalise the time limit in line with our disability and equality legislation.

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://www.thecatholicnetwork.co.uk/10730?


Catholics who’ve been scanning UK news media this week can hardly have failed to read the traumatic story of “35

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-05/padre-pio-photographs-anniversary-initiative-press-conference.html


"Photographs of Saint Pio - Memories of a Saint" is an initiative of the Saint Pio Foundation, which has selected some photographs of the saint taken ...

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)
Read More
Page 171 of 188 [171]