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 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

Archive by tag: Bishops' Conference of ScotlandReturn

August 2026

29Aug

Today the Church commemorates the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for Christ and ultimately ...

29 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today the Church commemorates the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for Christ and ultimately gave his life for speaking the truth.

John was called by God to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, preaching repentance and baptising in the River Jordan. Yet he always pointed beyond himself towards Jesus, declaring: “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

John’s courageous witness eventually led to his imprisonment. He had openly challenged King Herod Antipas over his unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife. During a banquet, Herod made a reckless promise to Herodias’ daughter after she danced before his guests. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist.

Although distressed, Herod ordered John to be beheaded in prison.

John’s entire life was one of selfless witness. He sought neither power nor glory for himself, but continually directed others towards Christ. As he said of Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

His martyrdom reminds us that faithfulness to the Gospel sometimes demands great courage. John refused to remain silent in the face of wrongdoing, even when speaking the truth ultimately cost him his life.

Today, we ask for the courage to follow his example: to remain faithful to Christ, to speak the truth with conviction and to point others towards the Lamb of God.

🙏 Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

29Aug

Gospel

29 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Mark 6:17-29
‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’

At that time: Herod had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.’ And he vowed to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.’ And she went out and said to her mother, ‘For what should I ask?’ And she said, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

28Aug

Today the Church celebrates Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose journey from a restless search for ...

28 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today the Church celebrates Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose journey from a restless search for fulfilment to a life centred completely on Christ has inspired Christians for centuries.

Born in North Africa in 354, Augustine was the son of Saint Monica, whose persistent prayer for his conversion is remembered by the Church to this day. Although raised with knowledge of Christianity, as a young man Augustine distanced himself from the faith and spent years searching for truth and happiness elsewhere.

A brilliant student and teacher of rhetoric, Augustine pursued philosophy and joined the Manichaean movement. His search eventually took him to Milan, where he encountered Saint Ambrose, whose preaching helped him to understand Christianity in a new way.

At the age of 32, after years of intellectual and spiritual struggle, Augustine underwent a profound conversion. In his Confessions, he describes hearing a voice telling him to “take and read”. Opening the Scriptures, he encountered words from Saint Paul that spoke directly to his struggle. Augustine was baptised by Saint Ambrose at the Easter Vigil in 387.

Returning to North Africa, Augustine embraced a life of prayer and community. He was ordained a priest in 391 and, a few years later, became Bishop of Hippo, serving his people for more than three decades.

Augustine became one of the greatest theologians and spiritual writers in the history of Christianity. His works, including the Confessions and The City of God, profoundly shaped the Church’s understanding of grace, sin, freedom, the Scriptures and the human longing for God.

At the heart of Augustine’s life was the discovery that nothing created could ultimately satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart. As he famously wrote:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Saint Augustine died in 430 as Hippo was under siege. His extraordinary journey from searching and uncertainty to faith and holiness continues to remind us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

🙏 Saint Augustine of Hippo, pray for us.

28Aug

Gospel

28 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 25:1-13
‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable, ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered, saying, “Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.” And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he answered, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’

27Aug

As Artificial Intelligence develops at extraordinary speed, the questions facing us are not simply technological

27 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

As Artificial Intelligence develops at extraordinary speed, the questions facing us are not simply technological.

What should we create? Where should the limits be? And how do we ensure that technological progress genuinely serves humanity?

In Unpacking Magnifica Humanitas, Bishop Frank Dougan and Fr Michael Kane discuss Pope Leo XIV’s vision for navigating a rapidly changing technological world — and why voices from within the technology industry itself are looking to the Church for a moral perspective.

“The question is not just can we do it. Should we do it? Is it good for our humanity?”

🎥 Watch the full discussion now on the Being Catholic TV YouTube channel.

📖 Want to take the conversation further? The Magnifica Humanitas Parish Study Guide from Justice & Peace Scotland is also available to order for parishes and groups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge1B8etyXEI

#MagnificaHumanitas #PopeLeoXIV #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #CatholicChurch #BeingCatholicTV

27Aug

Ahead of the UN’s annual day remembering those attacked for their Faith, the president of Scotland’s Bishops’ Conference has cal...

27 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Ahead of the UN’s annual day remembering those attacked for their Faith, the president of Scotland’s Bishops’ Conference has called for support for a petition urging authorities to defend religious freedom around the world.

Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “I want to encourage people to back this important call to action and help all those suffering around the world for their faith.

“Men and women are imprisoned, driven from their homes or even killed simply because of their peacefully held beliefs.

“Women can be kidnapped and forced to marry, children can be denied the right to learn about their faith.

“Violations of a person’s right to worship and live out his or her faith are contrary to the values of a just society. Religious freedom is a right, not a privilege.”

The United Nations’ International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief was established to highlight those suffering violence, persecution or discrimination because of their religion or beliefs.

Bishop Keenan’s statement strongly backs Aid to the Church in Need’s Article 18 petition that calls on the UN and state governments, calling on them to hold persecutors accountable and supporting victims of religious persecution.

The bishop highlighted research by Aid to the Church in Need that showed more than 5.4 billion people live in countries where persecution, oppression or discrimination can restrict religious freedom, including more than 200 million Christians.

Bishop Keenan also recalled the words of Pope Leo, who told ACN that freedom of religion or belief is not merely “a legal right or a privilege granted to us by governments” but “a foundational condition that makes authentic reconciliation possible".

Pope Leo also warned: “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others.”

ACN’s Article 18 petition calls for renewed action to protect those persecuted for their faith and to uphold the dignity of people and communities denied their fundamental right to believe.

The petition also highlights Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to practise faith openly and without fear.

Bishop Keenan joins a long line of UK religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Westminster Richard Moth, Anglican Archbishop of Winchester Bishop Philip Mounsteven, and the Coptic Archbishop of London, Archbishop Angaelos.

Bishop Keenan added: “I encourage everyone to join ACN in signing this petition to the United Nations and to stand up with those persecuted for their faith.”
Attacks on faith groups continue around the world. On Monday (17th August), dozens of Christians were killed in Nigeria’s Plateau State in an overnight attack that came following one by Fulani extremists.

27Aug

Today the Church celebrates Saint Monica, remembered especially for her steadfast faith, perseverance in prayer and enduring lov...

27 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today the Church celebrates Saint Monica, remembered especially for her steadfast faith, perseverance in prayer and enduring love for her family.

Born in North Africa in the fourth century, Monica was raised as a Christian but was married to Patricius, who was not. Her marriage brought many difficulties, yet through her patience, prayer and Christian example, both her husband and mother-in-law eventually embraced the Christian faith. Patricius was baptised shortly before his death.

Of Monica’s children, the most famous was Saint Augustine of Hippo. As a young man, Augustine turned away from the Christian faith, embraced Manichaeism and lived a life which caused his mother great sorrow.

For many years, Monica prayed tirelessly for her son’s conversion. She followed Augustine from North Africa to Italy, eventually joining him in Milan, where the preaching and guidance of Saint Ambrose had a profound influence upon him.

Her prayers were finally answered when Augustine embraced the Catholic faith and was baptised by Saint Ambrose at Easter in 387.

Soon afterwards, Monica and Augustine prepared to return to North Africa. While waiting at Ostia, they shared a remarkable conversation about eternal life, later recorded by Augustine in his Confessions.

Monica became ill shortly afterwards and died at Ostia in 387. Having witnessed her son’s conversion, she told him that the great hope she had carried for so many years had been fulfilled.

Much of what we know about Saint Monica comes from Augustine himself, whose writings reveal both the depth of his mother’s faith and the enormous influence her prayers and example had upon his life.

Saint Monica remains a particularly powerful patron for parents and for all who pray for family members who have drifted away from the faith. Her life reminds us never to lose hope in the power of prayer or in God’s ability to work within the lives of those we love.

🙏 Saint Monica, pray for us.

27Aug

Gospel

27 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 24:42-51
‘Be ready.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
‘Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, “My master is delayed”, and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

26Aug

Continue the conversation in your parish

26 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Continue the conversation in your parish.

Unpacking Magnifica Humanitas is intended to begin a conversation — not end one.

The accompanying Parish Study Guide from Justice & Peace Scotland provides an opportunity for parishes and groups to explore Pope Leo XIV's encyclical together, reflect on its themes and consider what they mean for our own lives and communities.

📖 Order the Magnifica Humanitas Parish Study Guide here:

https://beingcatholic.org/store

🎥 You can also watch the full BCTV discussion with Bishop Frank Dougan and Fr Michael Kane: https://youtu.be/ge1B8etyXEI

26Aug

SAVE THE DATE: The next national family conference is the 24th of October

26 Aug, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

SAVE THE DATE: The next national family conference is the 24th of October. Please mark your diaries and come along for a great day of prayer, Mass and formation for married couples and children!

Register your interest now: https://shorturl.at/GrTCv