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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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February 2025

12Feb

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12 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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.

12Feb

Pope Francis at Wednesday audience: ‘Let us do penance for peace’

12 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

We are not born to kill!

Making the effort to use his own voice at the end of the audience, the pope earnestly pleaded with Catholics to “do our best” to bring an end to all conflicts.

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Bishop Keenan with the staff of the Safeguarding Office of the Holy See at a meeting today

12 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Bishop Keenan with the staff of the Safeguarding Office of the Holy See at a meeting today

12Feb

Bishop Keenan has met with the Holy Father during his visit to Rome

12 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Bishop Keenan has met with the Holy Father during his visit to Rome.

The Bishop of Paisley and the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland brought with him the prayers and warm regards of the people of the Diocese of Paisley and of Scotland.

12Feb

Bishop Keenan met with Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik at the Dicastery for Clergy today on his trip to the Holy See as President...

12 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Bishop Keenan met with Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik at the Dicastery for Clergy today on his trip to the Holy See as President of the Bishops’ Conference

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Pope Francis supports U.S

11 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-02/pope-francis-us-bishops-migration-deportation-human-dignity-righ.html

Pope Francis addresses a letter to the bishops of the United States, expressing his support for their efforts to protect the rights and dignity of ...

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11 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we humbly beseech Thee ...

11 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we humbly beseech Thee that we, who celebrate the apparition of the same Blessed Virgin, may obtain health of soul and body through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever Amen

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Proclamation of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at the torchlight procession