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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

National Family Conference 2026

11th October 2026


11 October 2026

Scotland’s Bishops Lead Prayers for Pope Leo

The Catholic bishops of Scotland have offered their prayers and support for Pope Leo XIV following the announcement today that he is to undergo surgery in the coming days.

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square at today’s Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo revealed that recent medical examinations had identified a small, localised nodule on his lung. The Holy Father explained that it had been detected at a very early stage and that, following medical advice, he had decided to undergo surgery to remove it.

Speaking on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop John Keenan expressed the bishops’ solidarity with the Holy Father and invited Catholics and people of goodwill across Scotland to remember him in their prayers.

Bishop Keenan said:

“We are conscious of the concern that news of the Holy Father’s health will bring to Catholics and to so many others throughout the world.

“At this time, we wish to express our closeness to Pope Leo and our hope that he will be strengthened and reassured by the prayers and good wishes of so many people who hold him in great affection and esteem.

“On behalf of all the bishops of Scotland, I want to assure the Holy Father of our heartfelt prayers and support.

“We invite Catholics across Scotland, and all people of goodwill, to join us in praying for Pope Leo, for the medical team caring for him, and for a successful operation and a full and speedy recovery.

“May the Lord give him strength and peace in the days ahead.”

...ENDS

Notes for editors

  • Photo of Pope Leo: Photo of Pope Leo XIV
  • The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCoS) is the assembly of the Catholic bishops of Scotland, working together on national pastoral, social and legislative matters on behalf of the Church. www.bcos.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]

8th October 2026


8 October 2026

Parental and Pastoral Care Without Fear: A Response to the SNP Conference Motion on Conversion Practices

The Catholic Parliamentary Office shares the determination to protect every person from violence, coercion, and abuse and strongly believes that such conduct should be addressed effectively under the law, and those who have suffered harm should receive compassionate and appropriate support.

At the same time, the motion tabled at SNP Party Conference proposes a prohibition of exceptional breadth, extending across family life, religious settings, healthcare and situations in which an adult has sought assistance voluntarily. Without precise definitions and robust safeguards, such an approach risks treating ordinary conversations, conscientious guidance and supportive care as suspect simply because they engage questions of identity, relationships, faith or personal conduct.

Parents and carers have responsibilities for the welfare of their children, including listening, offering reassurance, setting appropriate boundaries and helping them to reflect carefully on significant decisions. A broadly framed ban could create uncertainty about whether a parent may ask questions, encourage patience, seek professional advice or discuss the family’s moral and religious convictions without fear that such conversations might later be characterised as unlawful.

This uncertainty could weaken trust within the home. Children and young people benefit when they can speak openly with those who know and love them best, without family members feeling compelled either to affirm immediately every stated view or to withdraw from sensitive discussion altogether.

Pastoral ministry is founded on respect for the dignity and freedom of every person. Clergy, chaplains and lay pastoral workers are called to listen without condemnation and to accompany people with sensitivity and discretion. Individuals may seek prayer, spiritual counsel or moral guidance for many reasons. They should remain free to ask for such support, and clergy should remain free to respond honestly and compassionately within the teaching of their faith, provided no abuse, intimidation or coercion is involved.

It is important, for the sake of clarity and legal certainty, that supporters of conversion practices legislation demonstrate which conduct that isn’t already illegal they intend to criminalise by the proposed new law. Moreover, it is vital that any new law contains clear protections for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, private and family life, and the voluntary giving and receiving of pastoral care.

Anthony Horan

Director

Catholic Parliamentary Office

Bishops' Conference of Scotland

...ENDS

Notes for editors

  • Photo of Anthony Horan, Director of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office: Photo of Anthony Horan
  • The Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office works on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, by engaging with politicians and policymakers on matters central to the life and mission of the Catholic Church.
  • 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

October 2025



Today we had the great joy of celebrating the 100th birthday of our dear Mother Mary of the Resurrection. His Grace Archbishop Leo Cushley celebrated Mass in our chapel, and stayed and talked with us afterwards, which we enjoyed very much. In the afternoon, we gave Mother some gifts, chief of which was an apostolic blessing from His Holiness Pope Leo. Tomorrow we will put more photos and information on our website, as there hasn't been time today. It has been quite busy, but Mother seems to have thrived on it! We thank God for her spirit of prayer, her fidelity to her vocation, and her unfailing cheerfulness.
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The Candlelight Procession takes place tomorrow (Thur 30 Oct) in Glasgow.

It commemorates all those lost to abortion since the 1967 Abortion Act and is a time to reflect, pray, and honour every one of those innocent lives.
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The Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh runs an online Diploma in Catechetics each year which is open to people across Scotland.

Registration and details at bit.ly/diploma2026


Register now for the Diploma in Catechetics 2026 at bit.ly/diploma2026

Feedback from the 2025 course:

▪ "Each speaker was excellent."
Sandy C, Burntisland

▪ "Deepened my knowledge of the Catechism and helped to grow my personal faith."
- Marianne S, Falkirk

▪ "Deepened my understanding of the faith in such an accessible format."
- Marco P, Aberdeen
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Simon is eleventh in the list of the twelve Apostles. He is known as Simon the Zealot, but nothing else is known about him. His other name of “Simon Cananaeus” simply adapts another Hebrew word for “zeal” and has nothing to do with the town Cana.
________
St Jude, Apostle
Jude, also called Thaddaeus, is the apostle who at the Last Supper asked the Lord why he showed himself only to the disciples and not to the world. For many centuries he was scarcely venerated because people confused him with Judas Iscariot. He is the patron saint of lost and desperate causes.


________

Collect

O God, who by the blessed Apostles
have brought us to acknowledge your name,
graciously grant,
through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude,
that the Church may constantly grow
by increase of the peoples who believe in you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever Amen

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A new report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) covering the period between August 10 and October 26 has revealed that in just the 76 days, over 100 Christians in Nigeria were killed, and 120 others kidnapped by jihadist groups.

The report that Intersociety Founder and Leader, Emeka Umeagbalasi, shared with ACI Africa on Sunday, October 26 raises an alarm about “continuation, intensification, unchecked, untamed, widespread, coordinated and systematic attacks by Islamic Jihadists and their enablers, aiders and abettors against defenseless Christians in Nigeria.”

Of the 120 Christians abducted, at least 12 “are likely not coming back alive from the hands of their jihadist captors,” reads the Intersociety report in part.

Researchers at Intersociety base their assumption that a percentage of those abducted may never come back alive on an existing trend by the jihadists to kill their captives.

“A clear case in point is the over 1,000 abducted Christian hostages held inside Rijana Forest camps in Kaduna State, out of which estimated 120 or more than 10 percent are likely to have been killed in captivity,” the researchers say.

Findings by Intersociety also show that out of the 100 defenseless Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani militants “hiding under Fulani herdsmen’” accounted for an estimated 80 deaths while Jihadist Boko Haram insurgents killed the other 20 Christian deaths.

Intersociety reports that on October 14, some 13 Christians from Rochas village in Nigeria’s Plateau State were massacred by Jihadist Fulani militants, during which scores were injured and abducted.

The slain 13 defenseless Christians included children and eight adults. Those killed in the attack are identified as Solomon Dung Choji (43), Sunday Gyang Chollom (29), Davou Mallam Chollom (24), Kefas Dung Sambo (29), Chollom Danjuma Chollom (37), Christina Davou Chollom (27), Marvelous Chollom (8), Japhet Solomon (14), Ntyang Chollom Danjuma (6), Mary Monday (10), Mancha Monday (12), Solomon Chung (40) and Musa Dung Bot (32).

It further reports that on October 10, no fewer than nine Christians were killed and eight others critically wounded by Jihadist Fulani militants in Kachia part of Southern Kaduna.

Intersociety further refers to a September 2 report that “no fewer than eight Christians were killed by Boko Haram jihadists on August 30” in Borno State, and three others “in another area”.

The researchers further refer to Truth-Nigeria’s report of October 22 that reports the October 20 killing of five Christians by Boko Haram in Kwakwahu village of Madagali in Adamawa State during an attack in which four other Christians were abducted.

According to Sahara Reporters, no fewer than 12 persons, all of them Christians, including a medical doctor and some patients were abducted by Fulani Jihadists on October 21 in Southern Kaduna.

“There was also another attack in Gidan Busa village in Kachia county, during which three Christians were abducted and herded into Jihadist forests,” Intersociety has reported.

Leaders of the Kwara State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who spoke to Intersociety on October 25 also reported about “numerous” Christians having been killed, abducted or displaced in recent months since August by Fulani Bandits.

The bandits, Intersociety was told, are invading Yoruba parts of Kwara, Kogi and Nasarawa States from different fronts, during which several churches have also been sacked or destroyed especially in places like Ifelodun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Kiama, Isin, Oke Ero, Pategi, Edu and Baruten.

The Kwara CAN leaders also lamented over marginalization and deprivation of access to political office and representation.

Intersociety also refers to an October 24 report by Truth-Nigeria, that shows that in addition to more than 800 Christians held by Fulani Jihadists inside Rijana forest camps in Southern Kaduna, not less than 24 more Christians were abducted on September 20.

The researchers at Intersociety say that out of more than 1,000 Christian hostages abducted and held by Fulani Jihadists from December 2024 to October 2025, an estimated 200 have been ransomed and freed and more than 800 others remain in captivity.

“It is also our estimation that 120 have died in captivity since February 2025 and no fewer than ten of the Christian hostages killed in captivity in the past 76 days or since August 10,” the intersociety report reads.

Full story: https://ow.ly/zW3z50XiQ9F
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The Vatican has released the official logos and mottos for Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journeys to Türkiye and Lebanon, scheduled for November 27-December 2, 2025. The Türkiye logo, marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, bears the motto “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The Lebanon logo depicts Pope Leo blessing the nation beside a dove and a cedar tree, with the motto “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” Both designs capture the heart of Pope Leo’s first international journey: a mission of peace, unity, and hope in the East.

#shalomworldnews #popeleoxiv

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Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Türkiye and Lebanon next month, 27 November – 2 December 2025, which will be the first Apostolic Journey outside of the ...
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