Catholic Church in Scotland

The Latest

“The focus must be on providing care, not providing a cheap death,” Scotland’s bishops declared. Photo of the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh.

Scottish bishops: Assisted suicide leads to culture of ‘death on demand’ 

Aug 19, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

If passed an assisted-dying bill in Scotland would allow terminally ill adults over 16 to be provided with assistance in... Read more

Edinburgh city center, Scotland.

Bishops in Scotland react to new data showing majority of Scots have ‘no religion’

Jun 7, 2024

By Madeleine Teahan

Catholic bishops in Scotland have said that new data indicating that the majority of Scots have no religion comes as... Read more

The consecration of Father Martin Chambers as the new bishop of Dunkeld, Scotland had been scheduled for April 27.

Bishop-elect dies within days of his episcopal consecration 

Apr 11, 2024

By Eduardo Berdejo

The Diocese of Dunkeld, Scotland, announced that Father Martin Chambers passed away at the age of 59 just weeks before... Read more

Interior of the Scottish Parliament building.

Scotland’s controversial new hate crime law set to come into effect April 1

Mar 19, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The new law creates a new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups covered by the... Read more

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Scottish bishops criticize government’s new guidance on sex ed

Nov 18, 2023

By Madeleine Teahan

The bishops stated they are “disappointed and confused” by the Scottish government’s decision to delete all references to Catholic schools... Read more

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Scottish bishops: ‘Conversion therapy’ ban would criminalize Christian pastoral care

Jan 17, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

A proposed ban on “conversion therapy” is so vague, the bishops warned, that the law would “create a chilling effect.” Read more

Interior of the Scottish Parliament Building.

Scottish bishops warn of ‘gender reform’ bill

Dec 20, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

Scottish bishops have released a statement in opposition to the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals to change... Read more

Archbishop Mario Conti

Mourners pay tribute to ‘much-loved’ Scottish archbishop

Nov 9, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

“The death of Archbishop Mario will be felt not just in the Archdiocese of Glasgow, but across Scotland and beyond.” Read more

CNA

Scotland should be ‘caring for people, not killing them,’ Catholic Church urges

Sep 14, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

The Catholic Church in Scotland has spoken out about the dangers of current proposals to legalize assisted suicide for terminally-ill... Read more

Pilgrims traveled on foot and by ferry from the Scottish west coast, across the Isle of Mull, and to Iona Abbey during the Brecbannoch Pilgrimage June 11–13.

St. Columba’s 1,500-year-old legacy includes this new Scottish Catholic pilgrimage

Jun 19, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic pilgrims walked the Brecbannoch Pilgrimage June 11 to 13 to pray for Scotland and return a relic of the... Read more

Peter Forster, who was Anglican Bishop of Chester from 1996 to 2019, and who was received into the Catholic Church in 2021.

Retired Anglican bishop Peter Forster becomes Catholic, news report confirms

Feb 4, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Peter Forster, a former Anglican Bishop of Chester, was received into the Catholic Church in Scotland last year, a Church... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Rome campus of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Nov. 5, 2021.

Pope Francis: Care for creation is one of the ‘great moral issues of our time’

Nov 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope said he regretting not being able to attend the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Read more

Pope Francis boards his flight to Baghdad, Iraq on March 5, 2021.

Pope Francis will not offer a public Mass during Scotland visit

Aug 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope is expected to attend the “world leaders summit” in the opening days of the 2021 United Nations Climate... Read more

Canon Tom White, who is challenging Scotland's ban on public worship.

‘I’m overjoyed’: Catholic priest wins legal challenge to blanket ban on public worship

Mar 24, 2021

A Catholic priest has expressed joy after Scotland’s supreme civil court ruled that a blanket ban on public worship is... Read more

Canon Tom White, who is challenging Scotland's ban on public worship.

Catholic priest pursues challenge as Scottish government sets new date to lift public worship ban

Mar 10, 2021

A Catholic priest will proceed with a challenge to the Scottish government’s ban on public worship despite an announcement that... Read more

The flag of Scotland. Credit: Lynx Aqua/Shutterstock.

Scotland’s Catholic bishops seek ‘dialogue’ over cap on worshipers when public Masses resume

Mar 1, 2021

Scotland’s Catholic bishops said on Monday that they plan to engage in “dialogue” with government officials over a cap on worshipers when... Read more

Canon Tom White, who is challenging Scotland's ban on public worship. Photo courtesy of ADF International.

Priest challenges Scotland's coronavirus ban on public worship

Feb 19, 2021

Scotland’s coronavirus-related ban on public worship goes too far and churches that follow appropriate precautions should be allowed to open... Read more

The flag of Scotland. Credit: Lynx Aqua/Shutterstock.

Scotland's bishops protest against closure of churches amid new lockdown

Jan 5, 2021

The Scottish Catholic bishops have protested the closing of churches as part of Scotland’s newest coronavirus lockdown.  Read more

Bishop Hugh Gilbert, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

Public Masses resume in Scotland with ‘irksome’ 50-person limit

Jul 15, 2020

Public Masses in Scotland resumed Wednesday with a maximum number of 50 people permitted to attend regardless of church size.  Read more

Mystery surrounds death of priest who went missing in UK

Jun 26, 2017

A priest who was reported missing last week from his parish in Edinburgh, Scotland was found dead on a nearby... Read more