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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April 2025

21Apr

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

21Apr

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

21Apr

Pope Francis's message was to be joyful, merciful and to look forward when lost

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

https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/pope-franciss-message-was-to-be-joyful-merciful-and-to-look-forward-when-lost-5092283

Father Gerard Maguiness, who met Pope Francis in February, writes about what the first Jesuit to be Supreme Pontiff meant to him

21Apr

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

21Apr

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

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

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
I know that you will share in my deep sadness at the death of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace. Pope Francis was a true servant of the Lord and the People of God who, literally to the end, poured out his life for others. He was a great defender of the poor, the vulnerable and all those who were marginalised in any way. I had the privilege of being in his company several times and I was most impressed by his deep spirituality which obviously arose from a lifetime of reflective prayer. It is fitting that the Lord called him during the Easter Octave for he lived and witnessed continually to the Risen Christ. We are an Easter People and the Lord has called him to his eternal reward.
I will celebrate a diocesan Mass in our Cathedral for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul. The timing will be announced when the arrangements have been made. I know that you will keep Pope Francis in your prayers.
+Brian

21Apr

Letter from the Moderator of the Church of Scotland

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

Letter from the Moderator of the Church of Scotland
21 April 2025
Bishop John Keenan
President
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
Dear + John,
On behalf of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, may I express my condolences to you
following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis this morning. His life of service as a disciple of Jesus
Christ has resonated with all Christians, and his call to care for the integrity of Creation and to stand
in solidarity with the poor and the marginalized is one that has spoken to us all.
Please be assured of the prayers of the Church of Scotland for the people of God in each of the
dioceses of the Catholic Church in Scotland. We stand with you in sorrow and share together in the
hope of the resurrection.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Rev Dr Shaw J Paterson
Moderator of the General Assembly
Church of Scotland

21Apr

We join with the Universal Church and our friends around the world as we mourn the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis

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

We join with the Universal Church and our friends around the world as we mourn the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Bishop Frank has shared this short message to the Diocesan community.

21Apr

The Community of the Diocese of Motherwell joins the Church and so many others in mourning the death of Our Holy Father, Pope Fr...

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

The Community of the Diocese of Motherwell joins the Church and so many others in mourning the death of Our Holy Father, Pope Francis 1. We give thanks to God for his 88 years of life, particularly his service to the Church as a Jesuit, Priest and Bishop, and ultimately as Bishop of Rome. May his faith in the Lord’s Resurrection, which he celebrated with us yesterday, be fully realised and may his good soul rest in God’s peace.
+Joseph

21Apr

Death of Pope Francis

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

https://www.rcag.org.uk/the-archdiocese/latest-news/362-death-of-pope-francis

The Holy Father died this morning. On hearing news of the Pope’s death, Archbishop Nolan said: “I share the sense of loss of millions of people...

21Apr

'He shared Christ's mercy to all' - Archdiocese of Edinburgh

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

https://archedinburgh.org/he-shared-christs-mercy-to-all/

The Vatican has announced the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. Archbishop Cushley said: "I am deeply […]