The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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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March 2024

16Mar

Send a message of solidarity to the University of Manchester Pro-Life Society | SPUC

16 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.spuc.org.uk/manchester-pro-life

Please consider sending a message of solidarity to the pro-life students at the University of Manchester, to ensure they are supported and bolstered in the fight for life!

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16Mar

Manchester student mob uses intimidation tried to close pro-life group down - Join the resistance-

16 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://youtu.be/Bf70FCeCyqg
As Scotland pushes for buffer zones to suffocate the right to life, the right to free expression to support the unborn child and fragile mothers is more threatened than ever in our society by insults and violence. Politicians should take note. Write to your MSP.

Catholic Unscripted invite you to join them at a meeting in London to meet them and support our work of resisting growing action against Christian, Catholic ...

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14Mar

Pope recognizes martyrdom of priest, 15 nuns killed during World War II - Vatican News

14 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-francis-saints-decrees-metzger-nuns-soviet-union.html

Pope Francis authorizes the promulgation of several decrees recognizing the martyrdom of a priest guillotined in Nazi Germany and 15 German-born nuns ...

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14Mar

Pope Francis indicates ten themes for Synod Study Groups - Vatican News

14 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-francis-indicates-to-cardinal-grech-ten-themes-for-synod.html

Pope Francis sends a letter to Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, and outlines ten discussion points ...

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14Mar

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland Spring Meeting 2023 From Monday 11th till Wednesday 13th March, the Bishops of Scotland met at S...

14 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland Spring Meeting 2023
From Monday 11th till Wednesday 13th March, the Bishops of Scotland met at Schoenstatt Retreat Centre, Clachan of Campsie for their Spring meeting. Bishop Francis Dougan, newly ordained Bishop of Galloway, came along for the first time and also Canon Kevin Golden, Diocesan administrator of Dunkeld attended for the final time, prior to the episcopal ordination of Fr Martin Chambers on 27th April in Dundee. Also present were Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the UK and Bishop Mar Joseph Srampickal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy.
Topics discussed included current consultations at Holyrood regarding buffer zones and assisted suicide, ecumenism, including the recent joint pilgrimage of Catholic and Anglican Bishops to Rome and Canterbury for the Octave of Christian Unity, a presentation of the books of the new translation of the lectionary that will be launched in parishes from Advent 2024, by the publishers, the Catholic Truth Society, planning for national pilgrimages in Carfin and St Ninian’s Cave later in the summer, the training of seminarians, ongoing formation of the clergy, safeguarding, care of creation, the new Scottish Catholic Museum and Archive, marriage, family and life issues, Catholic education, the training of deacons and finance.
The Conference was also joined by Fr Bruno Le Peu, of the Paris Foreign Mission Society who spoke about the Catholic Hong Kong communities in Scotland and also by Shabir Beg of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq.
There was also the opportunity for the Conference to celebrate Mass in the Schoenstatt Shrine and pray for the Church in Scotland.

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12Mar

Fr. Faltas: We cannot close our eyes to children dying in Gaza - Vatican News

12 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/fr-faltas-we-cannot-close-our-eyes-to-children-dying-in-gaza.html

In an interview with SIR news agency, the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land calls for immediate action to save children’s and mothers' lives in ...

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12Mar

Pakistan’s Christians still ‘living in fear’ after 2023 Punjab violence - Vatican News

12 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/christians-pakistan-punjab-zafar-iqbal-interview.html

As Pope Francis invites the Church to pray during March for Christian martyrs, Fr. Zafar Iqbal highlights the difficulties facing Christians in ...

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12Mar

Pope Francis: Put God’s forgiveness at the centre of the Church - Vatican News

12 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-03/pope-francis-put-god-s-forgiveness-at-the-centre-of-the-church.html

Pope Francis presides over a penitential liturgy at Rome's St. Pius V Parish to open the "24 Hours for the Lord" initiative, and says confession puts ...

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12Mar

Pope calls for respect of the dignity of all women - Vatican News

12 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-calls-for-respect-of-the-dignity-of-all-women.html

Remembering Friday's annual International Women's Day, Pope Francis expressed his nearness to all women, especially to those whose dignity is not ...

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12Mar

African Bishops: 'Stop plundering mineral and natural resources in Africa' - Vatican News

12 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/secam-stop-plundering-mineral-and-natural-resources-in-africa.html

A seminar organized by the Symposium of the Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), in collaboration with the Vatican Dicastery for ...

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