The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

✝️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! ✨

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)

🕊️ 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.