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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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

11th November 2026

11 November 2026

Letter from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland to Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, President of the Polish Bishops' Conference


Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

6th November 2026

06 November 2026

Scottish Bishops Promote ‘Show Mercy’ Theme for Prisoners’ Week 2026

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland is encouraging parishes across the country to support Prisoners’ Week Scotland, taking place from 15 - 22 November, under the theme Show Mercy.

The annual initiative invites communities to reflect on the experiences of prisoners, their families, victims of crime and those working within Scotland’s prisons.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of recognising the dignity of every person, including those serving prison sentences.

Deacon Kenny McGeachie, lead Catholic chaplain for the Scottish Prison Service, said:

“This year’s Prisoners’ Week invites us to think more deeply about what it means to show mercy, particularly towards those who are already paying the price for their actions. I would encourage everyone to take part in Prisoners’ Week and reflect on how even a small act of kindness can affirm a person’s human dignity.”

One practical example is the Prisoners’ Week Dignity Fund, supported by the Society of St Vincent de Paul and other groups. The fund helps prisoners who lack financial resources or family support to obtain essential items, including suitable clothing for family funerals and basic necessities.

The Bishops’ Conference is encouraging parishes to make use of the Prisoners’ Week information packs distributed to parishes throughout Scotland, helping communities mark the week through prayer, reflection and practical support.

The public launch of Prisoners’ Week Scotland will take place on Sunday 15 November at Freedom City Church, Cumbernauld, with charity and support-service stalls from 3pm.

The event is open to everyone, and members of the public are warmly encouraged to attend.

Further information is available at www.prisonersweek.org.uk.

...ENDS

Notes to editor

  • Prisoners’ Week Scotland 2026 takes place from 15–22 November, with the theme Show Mercy. The public launch event will be held on Sunday 15 November at Freedom City Church, Cumbernauld, with charity and support-service stalls from 3pm. Everyone is welcome.
  • For further information, visit www.prisonersweek.org.uk
  • For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office. Email: [email protected]

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

News from the Commissions and Agencies

March 2026
11Mar

An amendment to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill proposes that eligibility should depend on a six-mo...

11 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
An amendment to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill proposes that eligibility should depend on a six-month prognosis.

But leading palliative care experts warn that predicting how long someone has left to live is not an exact science. Prognosis is often uncertain, and many people live far longer than expected.

Turning population averages into legal deadlines risks serious and irreversible mistakes.

When the stakes are life and death, uncertainty matters.

The more we know, the more we say NO.

Learn more and contact your MSP:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot/

Read More
11Mar

As the final vote approaches at Holyrood next week, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland urge you to contact your MSP asking them to...

11 Mar, 2026 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |
As the final vote approaches at Holyrood next week, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland urge you to contact your MSP asking them to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

All information and links you need are in the post below. ⬇️


𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has expressed deep concern over the Scottish Government’s response to proposed amendments to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The amendments, tabled by John Mason MSP and Paul O’Kane MSP, seek to introduce provisions allowing organisations—including hospices, care homes, and faith‑based institutions—to exercise conscientious objection.

In its response to these reasonable amendments, the Scottish Government stated that “it is not clear how an institution might demonstrate what their ‘conscience’ position is.”

The Bishops’ Conference strongly disagrees with this position, noting that every organisation has guiding values that shape its mission and practice.

For many faith‑based organisations, including Catholic hospices and care homes, these values are fundamentally incompatible with the introduction of assisted suicide. The Bishops’ Conference maintains that no organisation should be compelled by the State to participate in the deliberate ending of life when doing so would violate its ethical or religious principles.

The Bishops’ Conference urges the Scottish Government and MSPs to recognise and respect institutional conscience rights, ensuring that organisations are not forced into actions that contradict their foundational values.

Bishop John Keenan,
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
Read More
11Mar

“Be careful what you wish for.”

11 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
“Be careful what you wish for.”

Laws introduced with safeguards and good intentions often expand over time. What begins as a limited measure can quickly grow beyond what was first promised.

Experience from other countries shows that once the door is opened, it rarely remains closed to further change.

Scotland must consider the long-term consequences.

The more we KNOW, the more we say NO.

Write to your MSPs by visiting:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot/

Carefully read the wording of the email before sending. Click the button and enter your postcode when prompted.

Read More
11Mar

Holy Mass of Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent | 11 March 2026

11 Mar, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |
Holy Mass of Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent | 11 March 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

Read More
11Mar

Gospel

11 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
Gospel
Matthew 5:17-19
‘Whoever does them and teaches them will be called great.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

Read More
10Mar

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

10 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has expressed deep concern over the Scottish Government’s response to proposed amendments to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The amendments, tabled by John Mason MSP and Paul O’Kane MSP, seek to introduce provisions allowing organisations—including hospices, care homes, and faith‑based institutions—to exercise conscientious objection.

In its response to these reasonable amendments, the Scottish Government stated that “it is not clear how an institution might demonstrate what their ‘conscience’ position is.”

The Bishops’ Conference strongly disagrees with this position, noting that every organisation has guiding values that shape its mission and practice.

For many faith‑based organisations, including Catholic hospices and care homes, these values are fundamentally incompatible with the introduction of assisted suicide. The Bishops’ Conference maintains that no organisation should be compelled by the State to participate in the deliberate ending of life when doing so would violate its ethical or religious principles.

The Bishops’ Conference urges the Scottish Government and MSPs to recognise and respect institutional conscience rights, ensuring that organisations are not forced into actions that contradict their foundational values.

Bishop John Keenan,
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Read More
10Mar

Palliative care is one of the most compassionate and skilled areas of modern medicine

10 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
Palliative care is one of the most compassionate and skilled areas of modern medicine.

When delivered well, it relieves suffering, supports families and upholds dignity right to the very end.

But if intentionally ending life becomes an accepted option, what signal does that send about investing in care?

Scotland should strengthen palliative care, not risk sidelining it.

The more we know, the more we say no!

Write to your MSPs by visiting:
👉 carenotkilling.scot

Carefully read the wording of the email before sending. Click the button and enter your postcode when prompted.

Read More
10Mar

What happens to medicine if doctors are asked to help end life?

10 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
What happens to medicine if doctors are asked to help end life?

The foundation of medical practice has always been to heal, to relieve suffering, and to protect life. Changing that role would fundamentally alter the relationship between patient and doctor.

Care and killing are not interchangeable. They represent two very different visions of what medicine is for.

Watch the video to hear why this question matters so deeply.

The more we know, the more we say no!

Write to your MSPs by visiting:
👉 https://carenotkilling.scot/

Carefully read the wording of the email before sending. Click the button and enter your postcode when prompted.

Read More
10Mar

The Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland has raised serious concerns about the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adul...

10 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
The Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland has raised serious concerns about the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, warning that the legislation as it currently stands does not provide adequate safeguards for healthcare professionals or patients.

While the College takes a neutral position on assisted dying in principle, it has made clear that no law of this magnitude should be introduced without strong legal protections.

RCGP Scotland has warned that doctors must have the clear right to choose whether or not to participate and must be protected from discrimination based on that decision. The College is also concerned that essential protections for healthcare staff could be removed due to questions about whether the Scottish Parliament has the legal power to include them in the Bill.

There are also concerns about the pressure already facing general practice. Introducing a complex service of this nature without proper structure, funding, and safeguards could place further strain on an already stretched healthcare system.

As the Scottish Parliament prepares to vote on this Bill, it is vital that serious questions about protections, oversight, and patient safety are fully addressed.

The more we know, the more we say no!

📩 You can contact your MSP and ask them to reject the Assisted Suicide Bill at
carenotkilling.scot
Read More
10Mar

Concerns over Scotland Assisted Dying Bill

10 Mar, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |
The Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland has raised serious concerns about the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, warning that the legislation as it currently stands does not provide adequate safeguards for healthcare professionals or patients.

While the College takes a neutral position on assisted dying in principle, it has made clear that no law of this magnitude should be introduced without strong legal protections.

RCGP Scotland has warned that doctors must have the clear right to choose whether or not to participate and must be protected from discrimination based on that decision. The College is also concerned that essential protections for healthcare staff could be removed due to questions about whether the Scottish Parliament has the legal power to include them in the Bill.

There are also concerns about the pressure already facing general practice. Introducing a complex service of this nature without proper structure, funding, and safeguards could place further strain on an already stretched healthcare system.

As the Scottish Parliament prepares to vote on this Bill, it is vital that serious questions about protections, oversight, and patient safety are fully addressed.

The more we know, the more we say no!


Scotland’s leading healthcare organisations raise serious concerns over proposed changes to Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
Read More
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