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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

30th July 2026


30 July 2026

Bishop Welcomes Prime Minister’s Call to Prioritise Care Reforms Before Westminster Assisted Suicide Vote

Bishop John Keenan, the Bishop with responsibility for Marriage, Family and Life for the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s call for the serious gaps in palliative and social care to be addressed before the Westminster Parliament considers assisted suicide legislation.

Bishop Keenan said:

“The Prime Minister’s intervention is both timely and welcome. We have a duty to ensure that every person approaching the end of life has access to the compassionate palliative and social care they deserve. No one should ever feel driven towards assisted suicide because they lack the care, support or dignity they need.

“We were grateful that the Scottish Parliament resolutely rejected assisted suicide only recently. We hope this latest intervention will encourage Members of the Westminster Parliament to reflect carefully before taking a step that would fundamentally change the way our society cares for the sick and vulnerable.

“As our Catholic Parliamentary Officer, Anthony Horan, has rightly said: ‘The last thing the country needs is another divisive debate about assisted suicide. We need to make progress in improving palliative and social care, not offering vulnerable people state support to end their lives.’ I share that conviction wholeheartedly.

“This is an opportunity to rethink the whole approach to assisted suicide. The compassionate response to suffering is never to help people end their lives, but to ensure they receive the high-quality care, love and accompaniment they need. Let us pray for all who are seriously ill, for their families and carers, and for those in public office, that they may always uphold the dignity of every human life and work to build a society that truly cares for its most vulnerable members.”

Bishop John Keenan

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Contact:

Media Office

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

News from the Commissions and Agencies

December 2025
Medjugorje Mass | 29 December 2025
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

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Holy Mass of the Fifth Day of the Christmas Octave | 29 December 2025
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

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Gospel of the day (Luke 2:22-35)

When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons’.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.’

And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed — and a sword will pierce through your own soul also — so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’

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Bishop Toal's Sunday Reflection on Sunday, 28 December 2025

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Bishop Toal's Sunday Reflection on Sunday, 28 December 2025

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In a rare and significant moment of agreement, MSPs from Labour, the SNP and the Conservatives have raised serious concerns about the Assisted Dying Bill currently before the Scottish Parliament.

All parties agree on one thing: everyone deserves compassionate and dignified care at the end of life. However, they warn that the bill risks doing the opposite: entrenching injustice and inequality, particularly for the most vulnerable.

More than 100 reasonable amendments designed to improve safety have already been rejected by the Holyrood committee. These included proposals to:
• strengthen palliative care
• provide clear guidance if assisted suicide drugs fail or complications occur
• protect conscience rights for medical staff
• require training on the rights of people with disabilities
• ensure transparent reporting on complications and outcomes

Writing in The Times, former Scottish Chief Medical Officer Sir Harry Burns and Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, warn:

“Our experience of pastoral and medical care leaves us deeply troubled… particularly by the unwillingness of the bill’s proponents to consider any amendments improving palliative care services. As we face the real threat of palliative care beds being closed this year, the pressure to opt for assisted suicide could become immense.”

At a time when end-of-life care services are under real strain, the refusal to strengthen palliative care is deeply concerning.

This bill is not safe, and it risks harming far more people than it seeks to help. We urge MSPs to reject this legislation and instead begin a meaningful, compassionate debate about how Scotland truly cares for people at the end of life.

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📍 Contact your MSP and make your voice heard: https://carenotkilling.scot/







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Holy Mass of the Feast of the Holy Family | 28 December 2025
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

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🙏PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY FOR REFUGEES

On the Feast of the Holy Family we ask Jesus, Mary and Joseph who once had to flee violence and persecution themselves, to accompany all families and people who are seeking sanctuary today:

Lord Jesus, Son of God,
you know what it is to flee your home in fear,
to seek safety in a foreign land.
Be close to all who are forced to leave
their homes, their livelihoods, and all that is familiar.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
you know the anxiety of seeking shelter,
of protecting your child amid danger and threat.
Comfort all mothers and caregivers who are displaced, and surround their children with your gentle love and care.

Saint Joseph, faithful guardian of the Holy Family,
you led Jesus and Mary to safety in Egypt.
Guide and protect all families
and people fleeing war, persecution, poverty, and violence.
Intercede for them that they may know safe passage, sanctuary, and the hope and courage to build new lives.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
help us to recognise you
in every refugee, migrant, and displaced person.
Remove our fear, indifference, and suspicion,
and fill us with the love of Christ,
that we may welcome the stranger
with open hearts and generous hands,
sharing our resources and our solidarity.

Inspire our leaders and nations
to work for justice and peace,
so that every family may live without fear of violence, war, and persecution
and every person may find dignity, safety, and belonging.

Amen

📷 Image - 'Refugees: The Holy Family' by Kelly Latimore

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Feast of the Holy Family

Devotion to the Holy Family began in Bethlehem itself. The shepherds and the Magi honoured not only the Child Jesus, but also Mary and Joseph who lovingly cared for Him.

The Holy Family teaches us how to love and protect the Body of Christ, both the Church and the Eucharist. Just as Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus’ physical body with tenderness, we are called to honour His Real Presence with deep reverence.

Looking to their example, we ask forgiveness for times we have failed in love for the Eucharist, and we pray for a renewed devotion to Jesus, who remains with us always.

Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us. ❤️

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Gospel of the day (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23)

When the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

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