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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.

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Archive by tag: Bishops' Conference of ScotlandReturn
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08 May, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |



With our fellow Catholics, and so many others, across the world we in the Diocese of Motherwell thank God for the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. It is great news that Cardinal Prevost was chosen so quickly by his fellow Cardinals and there is reassurance that they have placed this confidence in his abilities to lead the Church in the great mission of preaching Christ, and upholding and strengthening our communion as the Body of Christ, the People of God. We trust that his choice has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and his actions will always be guided by the same Holy Spirit.

May God bless Pope Leo, and may he be sustained by the prayers of all the faithful. We commend his ministry as the Successor of St Peter to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and to that of all the Saints.

We will celebrate a Diocesan Mass in Thanksgiving for the Election of Pope Leo XIV in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, Motherwell, on Monday 26th May at 7pm. All are most welcome to attend.

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