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

03Feb

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Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese of GlasgowDiocese of Galloway RC Diocese of Aberdeen Diocese of Paisley Diocese of Argyll & the Isles Motherwell Diocese Bishops' Conference of Scotland

03Feb

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

03Feb

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

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

Bishop Nowakowski from UK opened a new parish yesterday in Ukraine

Ukraine, Sunday 3 February 2025 Divine Liturgy in a recently built parish in one of the suburbs of Ivano-Frankivsk. It was a very meaningful spiritual experience to pray with these people whose sons and daughters, husbands and fathers are defending Ukraine.

03Feb

Photos from Motherwell Diocese's post

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

03Feb

The blessing of St. Blaise

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

https://www.simplycatholic.com/the-blessing-of-st-blaise/

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

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January 2025

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The Diocese of Paisley Podcast | Tommy Burns - The Cause for Canonisation: Patrick O'Hara looks at the possible opening of a Cau...

31 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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The Diocese of Paisley Podcast | Tommy Burns - The Cause for Canonisation: Patrick O'Hara looks at the possible opening of a Cause for Canonisation of Scottish football legend.

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31Jan

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31 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-bosco/

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