During a reception at the Scotland Office, Cardinal O'Brien will take the opportunity to point out the coherence of the Catholic Church's pro-life stance, linking concern about nuclear weapons and the environment to the defence of unborn children.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh will tomorrow today challenge Westminster politicians to examine their consciences over recent parliamentary votes.

The funeral of Tommy Burns will take place today at St. Mary's Church, Abercromby Street, Calton, Glasgow. The Requiem Mass will begin at 12.15pm. Bishop Jospeh Devine of Motherwell will preside and the sermon will be preached by Mgr Tom Monaghan, Parish Priest of Tommy's home parish of St Cadoc's, Newton Mearns.

The presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ conferences of England & Wales, Scotland and Ireland today announced the award of a £25,000 grant, funded from a special Day for Life collection, to support adult stem cell research in the UK.

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland has unanimously agreed to transfer to
the University of Aberdeen the historic collection presently housed at
the Scottish Catholic Archives. The historic collection dates from the
12th century to 1878, when the Hierarchy was restored in Scotland and is
of immense historical significance.

In his message sent to all of Scotland's 500 parishes for the 42nd World Communications Day, Bishop Philip Tartaglia President of the National Communications Commission of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland claims "a fundamental disconnection between the provider and the consumer" has occurred in the media. The letter which will be read at all Masses on Sunday, 4 May 2008 suggests that "mass communications can fairly be charged with losing the ethical underpinning that once existed".

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has used "You Tube" to warn of the dangers in the Government's "Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill". In a 5 minute film which will be copied to DVD and sent to all UK MP's, the Cardinal reiterates his opposition to the creation of animal-human hybrid embryos and highlights recent opinion poll findings on the subject.

The video can be viewed at www.scmo.org or on "You Tube" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22MR984zgvo

At the same time, Bishop Philip Tartaglia has written to MP's in the Diocese of Paisley by Bishop urging them not to vote for the Bill. The letter is addressed to Douglas Alexander MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Jim Sheridan MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Jim Murphy MP for East Renfrewshire and David Cairns MP for Inverclyde.

Cardinal O'Brien warns of HFEA Bill dangers in You Tube video

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has welcomed the results of an opinion poll released today which shows that over two thirds of the UK population oppose the creation of part-human part-animal embryos.

Speaking at a Public Meeting in Kirkaldy this evening (28 March) on the ‘Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill’, Cardinal Keith O'Brien will call for greater communication between faith leaders and scientists. He will say; "I see the way ahead through bringing together the Churches and peoples of all faiths, along with scientists who are involved at this present time".