Justice & Peace Scotland

08/09/2026

JUSTICE & PEACE SCOTLAND STATEMENT ON UK MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

Justice & Peace Scotland welcomes today’s announcement by the UK Government of a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, alongside further sanctions targeting those involved in settlement expansion and settler violence.

We particularly welcome the Government’s recognition that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and that settlement expansion and settler violence are contributing to the displacement of Palestinian communities.

Today’s use of economic and diplomatic measures to uphold international law is a positive and long-awaited step towards holding Israel accountable for its repeated breaches of international obligations.

Through our participation in the Holy Land Coordination, we have witnessed the impact of settlement expansion and settler violence first-hand. In 2025, we met Daoud Nassar of the Tent of Nations farm in Bethlehem, whose family has spent decades defending the ownership of their land. The farm is surrounded by Israeli settlements and the family face constant violence, vandalism and repeated attempts to dispossess them. In 2026, in Taybeh, members of the parish of Christ the Redeemer told us of homes and property being attacked and of farmland and olive trees being damaged by settlers in an attempt to drive them from their land. These experiences demonstrate the very real consequences of settlement expansion for Palestinian communities.

Equal rights, security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis cannot be achieved without accountability and respect for the international legal framework. Measures such as those announced today should therefore be encouraged as a means of addressing injustice and helping to break the cycle of violence and loss of life for all who live there.

We continue to call for measures to address conflict that are consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel’s call to nonviolence. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly emphasised the need for peace founded on justice and respect for the dignity of every person.

Today’s announcement is a hugely welcome and much-needed step but the UK Government must continue to use all appropriate diplomatic, economic and legal mechanisms to uphold international law and prevent further settlement expansion.

We pray for all people living in the Holy Land and for a future in which Palestinians and Israelis can live with equal rights, security, dignity and lasting peace.

02/09/2026

WATCHED UNPACKING MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS?

Bishop Frank Dougan & Fr Michael Kane explore AI, human dignity and the choices facing us in a rapidly changing world.

WATCH THE FULL 30-MINUTE CONVERSATION ↓

What does Pope Leo XIV’s *Magnifica Humanitas* have to say about Ar...

17/08/2026

"NO TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS" - Christian Peace Witness Vigil at Faslane ✝️

Christians from across Scotland recently gathered outside the gates of HMNB Clyde at Faslane for our annual Christian Peace Witness Vigil. Marking the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we came together in prayer and reflection to say "No To Nuclear Weapons", mindful that the tragedy of 1945 can never happen again.

In his new book 'Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift', Pope Leo XIV reminds us that "it is not atomic weapons that generate peace, but disarmament" and calls on us to be active witnesses for peace.

Led by Archbishop William Nolan (President of Justice & Peace Scotland), Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland), and lay preacher Patsy Thomson (Scottish Episcopal Church), alongside friends from the Quakers, The Iona Community, Pax Christi Scotland, and the United Reformed Church, we reflected on the urgent need to redirect resources away from weapons of mass destruction and towards tackling the real emergencies facing our world: child poverty, ill health, and climate breakdown.

As Archbishop Nolan reminded us, our security cannot be built on an addiction to arms but on justice, compassion, and the common good.

Thank you to everyone who travelled by coach, train, car and even bike to pray together in peaceful witness. Let us continue to pray for our political leaders and to work together as builders of lasting peace. 🕊️✨

29/07/2026

🇻🇦 "MAY BELIEVERS AND PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL NEVER STOP WORKING AS BUILDERS OF PEACE." - Pope Leo XIV

Christians from across Scotland will gather at Faslane this coming Saturday for the annual 'No to Nuclear Weapons' Peace Witness Vigil.

Organised by Justice & Peace Scotland and held in collaboration with the Church of Scotland, the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Iona Community, Quakers in Britain, and Pax Christi Scotland the event brings Christians together to pray for nuclear disarmament around the world as an essential step towards world peace, to protect human life, and to safeguard God's creation.

The Vigil is led by Most Rev. William Nolan, president of Justice & Peace Scotland and Archbishop of Glasgow; Right Rev. Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; and Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

In his newly published book, 'Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift', Pope Leo calls Christians and all people of good will to reject the logic of violence and become builders of peace. In the same book he writes:

"It is not atomic weapons that generate peace, but disarmament."

As wars continue and investment in nuclear weapons grows, we'll gather to affirm that true peace and security is built not on nuclear deterrence but on dialogue, diplomacy and the upholding of international law.

If you've been thinking about coming along to one of our vigils, we'd invite you to join us this weekend to answer the Holy Father's call to be builders of peace.

🗓️ Saturday 1st August
🕚 11.00am–12.30pm
📍 North Gate, HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane)

🚌 Free coach travel is available from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

📧 To reserve your seat, email: [email protected]

Please include:
🔹 Your name
🔹 Pick-up point (Edinburgh or Glasgow)
🔹 Number of seats required

🚆If you’re travelling independently, take the train to Helensburgh Central, then the hourly 316 bus to Faslane.

🕊️We look forward to welcoming you to pray and act for peace.

22/07/2026

🇻🇦"IT IS NOT ATOMIC WEAPONS THAT GENERATE PEACE, BUT DISARMAMENT." - Pope Leo XIV

As global tensions rise and governments invest ever more heavily in weapons, Pope Leo XIV has issued a renewed call for nuclear disarmament in his book 'Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift', released yesterday.

On Saturday 1st August, we invite you to join Christians from across Scotland at Faslane for our annual No to Nuclear Weapons Christian Peace Witness Vigil.

We'll gather alongside fellow Christian communities in prayer, reflection and peaceful public witness to affirm the Holy Father's message that genuine and lasting peace is built not on nuclear deterrence but on diplomacy, dialogue and disarmament.

🗓️Saturday 1st August
🕚 11.00am–12.30pm
📍 North Gate, HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane)

🚌 FREE coach travel is available from Edinburgh and Glasgow (booking essential).
Pick up info:
🔹 Edinburgh: Waterloo Place (beside Waverley Station), departing 8.15am.
🔹 Glasgow: Gordon Street (outside Central Station), departing 9.30am.

📧To reserve your seat, email: [email protected]
Please include:
🔹Your name
🔹Pick-up point (Edinburgh or Glasgow)
🔹Number of seats required

🚆To make your own way to Faslane, take the train to Helensburgh Central and then the hourly 316 bus.

🕊Pope Leo also tells us in the preface to his book that "peace seeks witnesses." Will you be one of them with us next weekend?

Please share this invitation with your parish, friends and local community as we seek to gather as many people as possible to answer the Holy Father’s call.

20/07/2026

📝DEAR PRIME MINISTER: WE WELCOME REFUGEES

Justice & Peace Scotland has joined 219 other organisations in calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reject the hostile politics and divisive rhetoric that have too often dehumanised people seeking asylum.

In an open letter, coordinated by Together With Refugees, we urge the new Prime Minister to adopt a more humane approach to people seeking safety and refuge.

A different future is possible: one where refugees are not blamed for wider social and economic challenges but are welcomed with dignity and compassion and given the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to our communities.

As Pope Leo XIV recently reminded us during a visit to Lampedusa, our response to migration should be rooted in our shared humanity, striving to “receive, protect, support and integrate” those seeking safety.

That is why we are urging the Prime Minister to focus on what unites us, build common ground, and extend dignity and hope to those who have already endured so much.

03/06/2026

📢Our latest newsletter is now on our website featuring an introduction to Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, and an invitation to join our upcoming Dignity Not Detention Solidarity Witness at Dungavel in June.

Amid rising misinformation and division around immigration, there has never been a more urgent time to call for our brothers and sisters to be treated with dignity and respect. All the information you need to take part is inside along with regular news and updates from around the Justice & Peace Scotland network, upcoming events, and campaign actions to support.

➡️DIGNITY NOT DETENTION KEY INFO
🔹 Sun 14th June
🔹1.00pm
🔹 Dungavel House, Strathaven, ML10 6RF
🔹 Reflections led by Archbishop William Nolan.

02/06/2026

⛓️‍💥 DIGNITY NOT DETENTION - SUNDAY 14TH JUNE 2026 - "In Christian terms, they are our brothers and our sisters."

🎥 As we prepare to gather at Dungavel Detention Centre on Sunday 14th June for our Dignity Not Detention Solidarity Witness, we share reflections from last year's gathering led by Archbishop William Nolan, President of Justice & Peace Scotland; Fr Colm Martin, chaplain to Justice & Peace Motherwell Diocese ; and Andrew Smith, our Campaigns & Communications Coordinator.

❓You may wonder why Justice & Peace Scotland facilitates these solidarity gatherings. The primary problem with UK immigration detention is its unique status in Europe as the only system that allows indefinite detention. Workers, students, and others of different nationalities are locked up by the Home Office without knowing when they will be released. This causes severe mental health trauma and costs millions of pounds in unlawful detention payouts.

⛓️ Survivors of torture, human trafficking, and sexual violence, as well as people living with severe mental illness, continue to be detained in centres across the UK. The closed, prison-like environment frequently deepens existing trauma, while the uncertainty and isolation of indefinite detention can have a devastating impact on those who are often already particularly vulnerable.

🤍 We believe that every human person is made in the image and likeness of God and must be treated with dignity. That is why we call for humane alternatives to immigration detention that respect the inherent worth of every individual. In the words of Archbishop Nolan at last year's event: "We are here today recognising our fellow human beings on the other side of that fence, we've come to acknowledge their dignity, and their human worth, and their value... In Christian terms, they are our bothers and sisters."

🕊️ Next Sunday, we invite you to stand with us in an act of Christian hope and solidarity. By gathering outside Dungavel, we send a simple message to those detained inside: you are not forgotten. Join us as we witness for a more just and humane immigration system; one that recognises the dignity, worth, and humanity of every person.

🗓️ Sunday 14th June
🕐 1.00PM
📍 Dungavel House, Strathaven, ML10 6RF

26/05/2026

🇻🇦“Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed.” - Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo made an urgent appeal yesterday at the Vatican launch of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), as he warned that technology must never become “an instrument of domination, exclusion and death.”

In this landmark new encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo calls on the Church and the wider human family to ensure that technological progress always serves human dignity, peace, justice, and the common good. Reflecting on the rapid rise of AI he urges us to remain “awake” and become “artisans of hope” in shaping a more human and fraternal future.

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland warmly welcomes this important and timely document and encourages parish communities, schools, and all the faithful to read, study, and pray with it. Please see below the Bishops’ statement on Magnifica Humanitas:

💬"The Bishops of Scotland warmly welcome Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, as a timely and insightful contribution to one of the defining questions of our age. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes human life, this important document calls us to place the dignity of the human person at the heart of every technological advance. We encourage the faithful, our schools and parish communities to read, study and pray with this landmark text."

💬"To support this, the Office of Communications and Evangelisation will soon publish a parish study guide and other resources for small groups and parish use, helping communities to reflect more deeply on the opportunities and challenges of new technologies and their impact on human life."

🕊️Justice & Peace Scotland also encourages our supporters to read, reflect, and pray with the Holy Father’s first encyclical as we discern together how emerging technologies can better serve human dignity, peace, and the common good.

25/05/2026