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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

23rd July 2026


23 July 2026

Catholic Bishops of Scotland Offer Congratulations to the New Prime Minister

The Catholic Bishops of Scotland have written to the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, offering their congratulations on his appointment and assuring him of their prayers and good wishes as he begins this important public service.

As a Catholic, the Prime Minister will be familiar with the Church’s enduring commitment to the dignity of every human person and to the promotion of the common good – principles which lie at the heart of Catholic social teaching. We hope these values will underpin his leadership, particularly in serving the poor, the vulnerable and those on the margins of society, and in advancing the cause of peace, justice and reconciliation both at home and abroad.

We assure the Prime Minister of our prayers for wisdom, courage and integrity as he undertakes the responsibilities of this high office. We look forward to working constructively with him and his Government on the many issues that affect the lives and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, and we pray that the United Kingdom will continue to use its influence in the service of peace, justice and human dignity throughout the world.

Bishop John Keenan

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Letter to Prime Minister 230726

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

News from the Commissions and Agencies

September 2024
Religious from across Scotland gathered at Carfin Grotto for the Conference of Religious Scotland AGM on Tuesday.

Holy Mass was celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Papal Nuncio to the UK, who is pictured with Bishop Frank Dougan (left, Galloway Diocese) and Bishop Andrew McKenzie (Dunkeld Diocese).

More photos at Motherwell Diocese.



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Pope Francis visited the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome on Wednesday to entrust his Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium to Our Lady.

The Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium begins on Thursday. 🇱🇺 🇧🇪


Pope Francis makes his customary visit to the ancient icon of 'Maria Salus Populi Romani' ahead of his Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium.

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Pope Francis has made a heartfelt appeal against escalation in Lebanon, calling the volatile situation 'unacceptable' and praying for all who are suffering from war.


Pope Francis makes a heartfelt appeal against escalation in Lebanon, calling the volatile situation 'unacceptable' and praying for all who are ...

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But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts.

By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And, by abortion, that father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. The father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley and spokesperson for the Bishops’ Conference on life issues said:

“This is a chilling day for fundamental freedoms, including our basic right as citizens in Scotland to manifest our beliefs in public, religious or otherwise.

“None of the arguments made were able to get around the basic premise that Police Scotland had never asked for more powers and even told the Parliament they were “really uncomfortable” with the bewildering suggestion of having to police people’s thoughts under the new law.

“The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland condemns all harassment and intimidation of people but continues to note the poor case made that this sort of behaviour was in any way the ethos of Scottish vigils, and endorses the view of Police Scotland, that there are already ample laws in place to deal with such behaviour. This law is certainly unnecessary in terms of public order and will disproportionately affect citizens of faith.”

Bishop Keenan added: “While we commend the one MSP who was prepared to recognise and call out the injustice of this draconian law which now criminalises citizen’s thoughts and makes it illegal to pray in certain parts of the country, it is concerning that there was only one.”

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2024-09/pakistan-blasphemy-death-sentence-christian-woman-whatsapp.html


According to the judges, Shagufta Kiran shared an offensive message against Islam on WhatsApp. The woman, currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi, was ...

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https://rcpolitics.org/ Praying to become illegal in parts of Scotland as new buffer zone law comes into force



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We have relaunched our website. Includes news from our commissions and agencies, Catholic Scotland info, Bishops’ roles, links to all dioceses, reports and more. Visit www.bcos.org.uk



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https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/


Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, popularly known as Padre Pio, grew up in southern Italy. At the age of 15, he joined the Capuchins and was ordained in 1910. In 1918 he received the stigmata, the markings of the crucified Jesus, which he then bore for the next 50 years.

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Please pray for Mgr. Henry Docherty, former secretary general of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, who died this morning. May he rest in peace.


It is with deep regret that we have to advise you of the death of Monsignor Henry Docherty, who passed away this morning in Summerlee Care Home in Coatbridge.

1930 Born Glasgow
Attended St.Mungo’s Academy
1949 Scots College Rome
1955 Ordained Rome
1956-1959 St. James’ Coatbridge
1959-1967 St. Patrick’s Wishaw
1967-1968 St. Bartholomew’s Coatbridge
1968-1969 St. Augustine’s Coatbridge
1969-1970 St. Brendan’s Motherwell
1970-1978 Chaplain Notre Dame College of Education
1978-1979 St. Serf’s Airdrie
1979-1987 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Rome
1987 Secretary Bishops Conference of Scotland

Further information, and details of the funeral arrangements for Monsignor Henry, will be provided in due course.

Our Lady, Queen of Priests, pray for him.

Requiescat in pace.

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