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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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Archive by tag: Bishops' Conference of ScotlandReturn

April 2025

26Apr

From the Office of Readings today

26 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

From the Office of Readings today
Therefore, it is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. His body is given to us under the symbol of bread, and his blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving them one body and blood with him. Having his body and blood in our members, we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature.

26Apr

PRAY FOR PEACE WITH POPE FRANCIS🙏

26 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

PRAY FOR PEACE WITH POPE FRANCIS🙏

POPE FRANCIS GATHERS THEM FOR PEACE

Since the funeral of the Supreme Pontiff is attended by most of the World Leaders, this brought them unplanned opportunities to talk to each other.

President Trump and President Zelensky talked to each other inside the Basilica of St Peter, peacefully.

Truly, the message of Peace from Pope Francis still remains.

Let us pray for the peace of the World. Amen.

26Apr

Pope Francis’ life recalled in Deed placed in coffin - Vatican News

26 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-deed-rogito-coffin-life-petrine-ministry.html

The Deed for the Pious Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis has been placed in his coffin, which was sealed in a solemn rite ahead of his Requiem ...

26Apr

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

26 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

25Apr

The Holy See

25 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Visiting the official website of the Holy See one can browse: the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs (from Pope Leo XIII to Pope Francis); the fundamental texts of Catholicism in various languages (the Sacred Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the documents of the Second Vatican Council a...

25Apr

Pope Francis’ coffin to be sealed in rite on Friday evening - Vatican News

25 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-coffin-rite-sealing-funeral-mass-novemdiales.html

Pope Francis’ coffin will be sealed during a liturgical rite held in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, April 25, at 8:00 PM.

25Apr

Those who are “last” will be the last to say goodbye - Vatican News

25 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/those-who-are-last-will-be-the-last-to-say-goodbye.html

Our Editorial Director, Andrea Tornielli, reflects on the initiative for several people from the margins of society to welcome Pope Francis' mortal ...

25Apr

Pope Francis’ tomb in the Basilica of St

25 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Pope Francis’ tomb in the Basilica of St. Mary Major has been made with materials from the Italian region of Liguria. It is a simple tomb bearing only the inscription “Franciscus” and a reproduction of the late Pope’s pectoral cross.

The tomb is located near the Altar of St. Francis, in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Salus Populi Romani Chapel) and the Sforza Chapel.

Speaking on television, the Coadjutor Archpriest of the Basilica, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, announced Pope Francis’ desire to be buried in a tomb made from the “stone of Liguria, the land of his grandparents.”

24Apr

Cardinals meet for third General Congregation

24 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

24Apr

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

24 Apr, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Holy Mass at the Underground Basilica of Saint Pius X on the HCPT Lourdes Pilgrimage this morning.

Main pic from left:
▪️Bishop Joseph Toal, Motherwell Diocese.
▪️Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.
▪️Bishop Frank Dougan, RC Diocese of Galloway.

Pics: Elaine Furmage/HCPT