Justice & Peace Scotland

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

24/05/2026

📢 SAVE THE DATE: DIGNITY NOT DETENTION - DUNGAVEL SOLIDARITY WITNESS - Sunday 14th June, 1pm, Dungavel House Strathaven, ML10 6RF

Twice a year we gather outside Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre to stand in solidarity with those detained inside and to call for an end to indefinite immigration detention in the UK. As anti-immigrant sentiment and hostile rhetoric towards migrants and refugees continues to grow, it is more important than ever that we come together to show that another response is possible – one that is rooted in compassion, human dignity, and love for the stranger.

18/05/2026

🗓️❗SAVE THE DATE: Dignity Not Detention - Dungavel Solidarity Witness

🔐The UK is the only country in Europe that locks people up in immigration detention centres without a time limit. Indefinite detention in prison-like conditions is inhumane and unjust.

🤍At a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric and hostility towards people seeking safety and a better life continues to rise it is more urgent than ever to come together in solidarity with our neighbours, to show love for the stranger, and to continue advocating for humane and dignified alternatives to immigration detention.

📢Join us outside Dungavel this June for a peaceful witness calling for an immigration and asylum system that treats every person with the dignity and respect they deserve, with reflections and readings led by Archbishop William Nolan, President of Justice & Peace Scotland.

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

25/04/2026

🗳️HUSTINGS - TUESDAY 28TH APRIL

Justice & Peace Motherwell Diocese have organised a candidate hustings ahead of the Scottish election.

📣 Representatives from all major parties in the area will be present.

Details:
🗓️Tues 28th April
🕜1.30pm
📍St Bride's Hall, Motherwell

If you’re free and local, please consider going along to support one of our diocesan groups.

13/04/2026

🕊️The Bishops of Scotland have released a statement urging world leaders to follow the way of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve the Gospel message of peace.

🇻🇦The Bishops' statement expresses solidarity with our Holy Father, Pope Leo, and urges all people of goodwill to unite in hope and prayer for peace and justice in our world.

"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

"As the Holy Father begins his apostolic journey to several countries in Africa as a missionary of peace, we assure him of our continued prayers and solidarity."

Read the full statement in the post below. ⬇️

𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁

The Bishops of Scotland today renew their urgent appeal to political leaders across the world to pursue peace with courage, determination, and sincerity. In a time marked by deepening conflict and human suffering, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and South Sudan, the need for dialogue and diplomatic solutions has never been more pressing.

War brings devastation, loss, and division. It leaves lasting wounds in families, communities, and nations, and it disproportionately harms the innocent. The Bishops call on all those in positions of authority to reject the path of escalation and instead commit themselves to meaningful dialogue, patient negotiation, and the difficult but necessary work of peacebuilding.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

Reflecting on the Holy Father’s recent Vigil for Peace held last Saturday, the Bishops highlight his powerful words:
“Let us silence the weapons, so that the voice of humanity may be heard. Let us choose encounter over confrontation, and the courage of peace over the illusion of power.”

The Bishops of Scotland invite Catholics across our country to join the Holy Father in this appeal. In parishes, homes, and communities, we continue to pray fervently for an end to violence and for the triumph of justice and reconciliation.

The Bishops urge all people of goodwill to stand together in hope. Peace is not beyond reach - but it requires genuine humility, courage, and a shared commitment to the dignity of every human life.

As the Holy Father begins his apostolic journey to several countries in Africa as a missionary of peace, we assure him of our continued prayers and solidarity.

13/04/2026

🇻🇦Aboard his flight to Algeria today, Pope Leo has spoken with clarity and confidence in proclaiming the Gospel at a time when some voices in global politics question or dismiss the Church’s role in advocating for peace:

"I have no fear... of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel. And that’s what I believe I am called to do and what the Church is called to do.

"We're not politicians. We're not looking to make foreign policy...

"But I do believe that the message of the Gospel, “blessed are the peacemakers,” is a message that the world needs to hear today."

🕊️

08/04/2026

✝️“I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME.” (Matthew 25:36)

Our friends at SSVP Scotland, in collaboration with the Scottish Prison Service and Prison Fellowship Scotland, are hosting 'Where Is The Hope?' an information and discussion day exploring how we can better support people affected by imprisonment.

Imprisonment affects not only those in custody but also families, children, and communities. This event offers an opportunity to learn more about the realities people face and to reflect together on how individuals, parishes, and organisations can respond with compassion, accompaniment, and hope.

KEY DETAILS
🗓Saturday 25th April 2026
🕥 10:30am – 3:30pm
📍 Stirling Court Hotel (FK9 4AE)
📝Places are complimentary but booking is required.
📧To register, please email: [email protected]

Justice & Peace Scotland will be sending representatives to the event and we encourage all supporters interested in social justice, practical works of mercy, prison ministry, or in learning more about supporting families affected by imprisonment to register to join us there. 🤍