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The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

17th March 2026


17 March 2026

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


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.

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Archive by tag: Bishops' Conference of ScotlandReturn
February 2025



"The blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory markers."

The Holy See Press Office released an update on Pope Francis' health on Wednesday evening. It described the Holy Father's condition as "stable."

Continuing, the statement explained the Pope had breakfast in the morning and then "engaged in work activities with his closest collaborators. Before lunch, he received the Eucharist."

In the afternoon, Pope Francis received "a visit from the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, with whom he privately spent 20 minutes."
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A statement from the Vatican today has announced that Pope Francis is being treated for bilateral pneumonia. The Holy Father has asked that you continue to pray for him. 🙏

Statement:
“A follow-up chest CT scan, to which the Holy Father was subjected this afternoon—prescribed by the Vatican medical team and the medical staff of the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic Foundation—revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy.”

“Nevertheless, Pope Francis remains in good spirits.”

The Press Office statement concludes by noting that the Pope had "received the Eucharist and, throughout the day, alternated between rest, prayer, and reading. He expresses his gratitude for the support he feels at this time and kindly asks that prayers for him continue.”
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The annual Day of Prayer for those who have experienced abuse in the Church is observed in Scotland on the first Friday of Lent - Friday 7th March 2025. Resources are circulated by Diocesan offices to support the provision of specific prayers and liturgies in parish churches and faith communities across Scotland.
Bishops' Conference of Scotland Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese of Glasgow Motherwell Diocese Diocese of Galloway RC Diocese of Aberdeen Diocese of Paisley Diocese of Argyll & the Isles
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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/262189/a-new-generation-of-saints-6-young-millennials-on-the-road-to-sainthood


Six young people who lived with deep faith and committed their lives to the Church that Jesus founded are on their way to being proclaimed saints.
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-02/pope-francis-matteo-bruni-health-hospital.html


The Holy See Press Office releases an update on Pope Francis' health as he is treated for a respiratory infection in hospital, saying that he rested ...
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St Like outlines the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Plain this weekend in the Sunday Gospel. If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians – they are my best workers.

2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them.

3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church – they are my missionaries.

4. Blessed are the trouble makers – they shall be called my children.

5. Blessed are the complainers – I’m all ears to them.

6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister’s mannerisms and mistakes – for they get nothing out of his sermons.

7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

8. Blessed are those who gossip – for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.

9. Blessed are those who are easily offended – for they will soon get angry and quit.

10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God’s work – for they are my helpers.

11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister – for he shall be with me forever.

12. Blessed are you who, when you read this think it is about other people and not yourself – I’ve got you too!

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news
Pray for Pope Francis 🙏


Pope Francis is set to be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to receive medical treatment for his bout of bronchitis and diagnostic tests.
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Today Bishop Keenan had meetings with the Dicasteries for Laity Marriage Family Life and Integral Human Development meeting Cardinals Farrell and Czerny. Also visited Divine Worship, Eastern Churches and Education/Culture.



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We are not born to kill!
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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