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President of Scotland’s Catholic Bishops asks First Minister to protect freedom of conscience

18 July 2019     The President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert has written to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to express his concerns at the attacks launched against the SNP MP Dr Lisa Cameron, following her vote against an amendment to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill that would have lifted the legal protections presently afforded to the unborn child in Northern Ireland.     In his letter on behalf of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Bishop Gilbert calls on the SNP leader, on behalf of all those “who cherish freedom of conscience within the public square” to provide an urgent reassurance that freedom...

Councillors urged to support Ayrshire’s Catholics by rejecting moves to remove voting rights for church reps on East Ayrshire Council’s education committee.

20 September 2019   The Bishop of Galloway, Bishop William Nolan wants them to urge local councillors to support Ayrshire’s Catholic community and vote against any such moves to ensure its schools catholic ethos is maintained.   He warned that if the proposal to remove voting rights from church reps, advanced by the National Secular Society and the Humanist Society Scotland was passed, it would “would weaken the Church’s voice and would do nothing to enhance Catholic education”.   In a message to be distributed at Sunday Mass in churches across Ayrshire this weekend  (21 & 22 September 2019) Bishop Nolan says: “given that the Diocese of G...

Cardinal O'Brien prepares for Conclave.

...ls of the votes when the election is over.  Voting begins on the first day, when one ballot is held in the afternoon if possible. If the first ballot does not produce a result, there are two ballots each morning and each afternoon until a result is declared.  The ballot paper is divided in two: the top half carries the words "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" (I elect as pope...) and the bottom half is blank for the name to be written in. The handwriting on the bottom part should not be identifiable as belonging to any cardinal, and the inclusion of a second name will render the ballot null and void. The Master of Ceremonies and others leave, the doors of the Sistin...

"Scotland For Marriage" Poll

...Sunday 11 March 2012SNP plans to allow gay marriage would make Scots less likely to back independence, according to a new poll.A survey of 1,004 Scots commissioned by the campaign group "Scotland For Marriage" has found that 11% of voters are less likely to vote to end the union if the controversial move to legalise same sex marriage goes ahead.The poll by ORB Opinion Research Business found that only 2% of voters are more likely to back independence as a result.Gordon Wilson, the former SNP leader, warned that the issue could prove a disaster for the nationalists at a time when they should be seeking to build consensus among voters.The poll found that five...

Making The Cross Count - A Pre-Election Message from the Scottish Catholic Bishops

...Limited numbers of the booklet have been sent to every parish in the country. In addition to the booklet a single page summary will be made available to parishioners through their local parish. The inclusion of a one-page summary is a bid to make the essential content of the document available to the largest number of people.  The summary will be made available to all families attending Mass this coming weekend, 19-20 May.  ENDS  We call on Catholics to use their right to vote, and to vote responsibly after having reflected on certain key areas. We call on voters to examine in detail the personal integrity, outlook and past performance of each candidate, and...

Scotland's Catholic Bishops meet the Pope

...ng how to vote."In conclusion he added;"We thank you for your efforts to achieve peaceful solutions in the various trouble spots in the world at this present time. Together with leaders of other Churches, and with members of other Faiths, we appeal for world peace at this present time, our particular concern being the situation in Iraq."In his reply, the Pope said;"The reports you have brought from your various Dioceses attest to the new and demanding situations which represent pastoral challenges for the Church (in Scotland) today. In Scotland, as in many lands evangelised centuries ago and steeped in Christianity, there no longer exists the reality of a "Chris...