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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

EVENTS

Westminster debate and vote on Assisted Dying – Friday 29th November.

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and the Catholic Parliamentary Office have commissioned this short documentary. Please WATCH & SHARE with friends, family, and particularly your local MP and MSPs.


"Do No Harm” is a short documentary which highlights some of the grave concerns around proposals to legalise assisted dying in the UK and Scottish Parliaments.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi3S2yp3hjY

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1029444718?share=copy

Please remember to share the documentary with family and friends, and on social media, and please use the hashtags #DoNoHarm and #RaiseYourVoice

Read the joint Statement from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, and Scotland on Assisted Suicide: AS-Plenary-2024-Statement-FINAL.pdf

BISHOPS RELEASE STATEMENT ON FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION AND JUST TRANSITION


fossil fuels statementThe Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCOS) have released a statement encouraging world leaders to agree to and establish a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, committing all nations to a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels. The statement, which is released to mark the COP29 climate summit taking place in Azerbaijan from 11th – 22nd November, calls on Scotland to play its role in realising the common good by participating in a swift transition away from fossil fuels to protect people and our planet, both now and in the future, from further global warming caused by fossil fuel extraction. Crucially, in recognising the workers and communities in Scotland who rely on fossil fuel industries for their livelihood, the statement emphasises that any such transition must have justice at its core and ensure that no one is left behind, particularly those currently employed in this sector who must be ensured secure work in the move towards renewables. The full text of the statement can be downloaded here.

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn
April 2024
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-appeals-for-ceasefire-in-gaza.html


Pope Francis makes his latest vehement plea for a ceasefire in Gaza, and appeals, once again, for "working tirelessly" for an end to the war, ...

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The SCSSA website has been refreshed with new content and style. It now uses 4 main pages to 'speak to' the various users who browse for safeguarding news, information and advice. https://www.scssa.org.uk
? LISTENING assures abuse survivors that, if they come forward to tell of their experiences, they will be treated with respect and compassion. It also advises anyone hearing a disclosure of abuse how to respond in the first instance
? LEARNING speaks to the importance of all safeguarding personnel in the Church - clergy, religious, employees and volunteers - continuing to learn about abuse and how to respond to disclosures. It is intended to become a gateway into various learning opportunities.
? IMPROVING highlights the SCSSA's primary purpose in monitoring adherence to the Church's Safeguarding standards, as set out in the document 'In God's Image'. It will provide guidance on approaches to self-evaluating and improving safeguarding practice.
? INFORMING provides an opportunity for anyone to "keep in touch' with the SCSSA by subscribing to its news updates.
Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese of Glasgow Galloway Diocese RC Diocese of Aberdeen Diocese of Argyll & the Isles Motherwell Diocese Diocese of Paisley Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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https://aleteia.org/2024/03/30/the-easily-forgotten-truth-about-the-resurrection/


Without the Resurrection, nothing else we believe really matters. Christ rising from the dead is the linchpin of our whole faith.

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https://aleteia.org/2017/05/29/need-a-taste-of-heaven-and-a-shot-of-joy-try-the-very-short-easter-prayer/


Short and easy, this prayer dates to the 6th century

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March 2024
https://youtu.be/YETnSx9HuMo?si=EzdEGBF8KvFRzXs5


Br. Pádraig McIntyre OSB sings the Exsultet, or Easter Proclamation, which is sung in the light of the paschal candle at the Easter Vigil. This great poetic ...

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-remembers-world-conflicts-at-urbi-et-orbi.html


Following the Easter Sunday Mass, Pope Francis delivers his Easter message and blessing "To the City and the World," praying especially for the Holy ...

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A blessed Easter to all ??on this Easter Sunday let us spend one minute joining with our Holy Father Pope Francis praying for the end to war!



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BUFFER ZONES DEBATE
With the debate around implementing so-called Buffer Zones around abortion clinics and hospitals in Scotland, I decided to dig deeper into the issue in England. Buffer Zones or so-called Safe Zones were put in place in some places to respond to aggressive and unsafe protests by some. This, at least, was the argument that was used.

I managed to find an image of one of the signs that is posted around a Safe Zone in England and could hardly believe what I was reading. I suggest you read it for yourself.

Astonishingly, this Protection Order bans audible praying, reading Scripture, making the sign of the Cross & genuflecting among other actions. It also prohibits “Protesting, namely engaging in an act of approval/disapproval or
attempted act of approval/disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services, by any means”.

Incredibly, this is presently in force in parts of England.

I can hardly believe that this did not create a public outcry from the vast majority of people who cherish the basic freedoms that make our democratic society so great, like the freedom to disagree and disapprove of things you believe to be wrong, freedom to express your sincerely held views, and freedom to express your religion in the public square. I can only imagine that people are not familiar with the detail and scope of these bans. Even those who sit on the opposite side of the abortion debate must surely see the egregious over-reach of the State in this instance.

Can you imagine for a moment if a Public Protection Order was issued to environmental activists, insisting that any protest which includes disapproval for fossil fuel use was banned.

What kind of country are we living in! What has happened to our basic civil rights! What has happened to the idea that we tolerate opposing views without resorting to censorship.

Surely we cannot allow something like this to come to Scotland. Protect people, by all means, from any harassment, intimidation or abuse. I will stand alongside anyone with that noble intention. But the State cannot trample over cherished and hard-won rights along the way.

I, for one, would never stop praying or making the sign of the Cross in public, no matter what the State imposes. This is Scotland, not communist China!

Please make your feelings known by contacting your local MSP.

God bless,
Fr Michael Kane

Missio Scotland Sancta Familia Media Group Page Videos Padre Pio Events Scotland Motherwell Diocese SPUC (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) Spuc Scotland I Am Pro-Life Being Catholic Scottish National Party (SNP) Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Parliament Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday
The Lord's descent into the underworld

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.
See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.
I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.
Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.



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