​Letter from the Scottish Bishops
re. Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
​
1. It is the duty of every Catholic to try to influence society for the better. The bishops urge you, 
therefore, to exercise your democratic right and responsibility to vote in the forthcoming Scottish 
Parliamentary elections.

2. Keep in mind that the Scottish Parliament now has more powers than before and has a greater 
say, therefore, in determining the welfare of society. As well as existing powers over education 
and health, the parliament has been given more control of the economy, with greater ability to 
raise and lower taxes. It will also have responsibility for legislation regarding abortion in Scotland.

3. Please make your views known to the candidates and the parties. You have two votes in the 
election. One is for a constituency MSP, where your vote allows you to have a direct say in who 
is elected. So scrutinise the candidates so as to vote for the person most compatible with your 
views. The second vote is for a political party. The party controls who is on their list and who is 
at the top of that list. You have, therefore, less control over determining which individual is 
elected. This is a concern when it comes to matters of conscience, where parliament may give a 
free vote to MSPs. It is important, therefore, that you seek to influence political parties by 
making your views known to them.

4. Please bring to this election the benefits of the insight that your Christian faith gives: insight 
into the dignity of each person, particularly the weakest and most vulnerable; insight into the 
value of all human life from conception to natural death; insight into the family as the fundamental unit of our society; insight into social and economic justice for all; insight into the care of the common home we inhabit.

5. To further these values, you might well consider it worthwhile to join a political party. Do not 
leave it to others to determine the future of Scotland. Only if you use your vote can you make a 
difference and influence our political leaders. Catholics in Scotland should not simply be passive 
spectators but should be active participants in shaping a better society and in ensuring that we 
have a parliament that appreciates, understands and respects a Christian vision for Scotland.

Yours devotedly in Christ

+ Philip Tartaglia, President, Archbishop of Glasgow
+ Joseph Toal, Vice-President, Bishop of Motherwell
+ Hugh Gilbert, Episcopal Secretary, Bishop of Aberdeen
+ Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
+ Stephen Robson, Bishop of Dunkeld
+ John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley
+ William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway
+ Brian McGee, Bishop of Argyll and The Isles