Latest news with #Bishops'ConferenceofScotland
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Landmark building by renowned Scottish architect sold
When Glasgow City Council put the Martyrs School on the market for sale last year, it had to move to reassure heritage experts concerned over its future in a city struggling with its difficult-to-keep heritage. External features are in view. (Image: Newsquest) The A-listed Martyrs' School, completed in 1898 and named after Church of Scotland Covenanters executed in 1684 at Townhead, is one of the earliest buildings attributed to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Now, in an exclusive article by Craig Williams, it is revealed the building that last operated as a school in the 1970s and was most recently used as offices, is to be sold to the Bishops' Conference of Scotland and will become a public museum of Scottish Catholic archives, housing artworks and artefacts. The sale is set to be approved by a committee within days. Also building will be sensitively refurbished through a £1.75 million works programme, funded by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, who will pay £250,000 in the sale. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland also owns St Mungo's Church and retreat on the opposite side of Parson Street. READ MORE: Craig also pointed to the negotiations over the use of another Mackintosh building - the Lighthouse, which was home to The Herald for 112 years - as a location to help climate tech firms grow after a committee gave the green light to the proposal. The council said it was to begin talks with Sustainable Ventures (Scotland) Limited on a long-term. The Lighthouse is one of Mackintosh's most celebrated architectural gems. Stuart Robertson, director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, said that "on paper, this sale looks a good fit for Martyrs' School and being used as a public museum'. He also told The Herald: "I am delighted to see that it will be sensitively refurbished through a £1.75 million works programme, funded by the purchaser. It would be good to see more details of this and the planned timescale." Dominic d'Angelo, chair of the Alexander Thomson Society, celebrating another renowned Scottish designer, raised an interesting idea when he wrote in The Herald last month that: 'Maintenance, especially for listed properties, comes at a cost, as the council has identified in recent discussions in Westminster, identifying some 60-plus properties that could benefit if the requirement for repairs to be subject to VAT could be lifted. 'Doing so could enable re-purposing older buildings to address Glasgow's – and other cities' – urgent housing needs and to repopulate the city centre, as well as benefiting organisations such as ours seeking to ensure a positive outcome for buildings by the many talented architects that have contributed so much to Glasgow's urban environment and streetscape.' He also said: 'As a society, we have consistently raised concerns with the council over the church's condition and future, alongside that of other buildings, including planned development next to Grecian Chambers in Sauchiehall Street and current repairs to the Buck's Head Building in Argyle Street.' Maintaining public buildings brings its own set of challenges for councils. So, the new arrangement for the former Martyrs' School building looks like a positive long-term move.
North Wales Chronicle
14-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Assisted dying Bill ‘devalues human life', says top Bishop
John Keenan, the Bishop of Paisley and the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, expressed his 'sadness' that MSPs backed the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Proposed by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, the Bill will go forward for further scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament. But Bishop Keenan equated assisted dying to suicide, claiming the law would normalise the idea of someone taking their own life, as he urged politicians to focus on caring for people to live. Mr McArthur said equating assisted dying and suicide was 'regrettable'. 'It is hard to believe that any parliamentarian could support what will effectively be the creation of a state suicide service,' the Bishop said. 'Politicians should be working hard to provide the support necessary for people to live, not give them a lethal concoction of drugs to die. 'At a time when suicide is on the rise in Scotland and we are doing our best to reduce it, what message are we sending when we say that suicide is the right choice provided it is overseen by a doctor? 'Laws like this normalise suicide and, with it, the false idea that some people's lives are beyond hope. 'This dangerous legislation devalues human life and puts our most vulnerable brothers and sisters under terrible pressure to take their lives prematurely. 'When vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled, express concerns about being a burden, the appropriate response is not to suggest that they have a duty to die. 'Rather, it is to commit ourselves to meeting their needs and providing the care and compassion they need to help them live. 'I urge every MSP to consider the great dangers inherent in assisted suicide legislation and to focus their energies on ensuring we provide better palliative care, giving everyone access to modern pain relief and the highest quality of care.' This is a watershed moment for compassion. MSPs have today taken a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people. #ScotsForDignityhttps:// — Dignity in Dying (@dignityindying) May 13, 2025 Mr McArthur, who is the third MSP in Holyrood's history to table a Bill on assisted dying, said he understood there would always be opposition to the legislation. 'This is about putting in place more choice, it's not about any obligation,' he told BBC Radio Scotland. 'Indeed, for medical practitioners, I think there needs to be a robust conscientious objection to ensure that their choices are respected.' He added: 'But I think referring to suicide is regrettable. 'I know a number of mental health charities, for example in Australia, have reflected that the mindset of an individual considering suicide could not be more different than the mindset of somebody faced with a terminal diagnosis, who's desperate to live, desperate to get the most out of the life that they have left.'
South Wales Argus
14-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Assisted dying Bill ‘devalues human life', says top Bishop
John Keenan, the Bishop of Paisley and the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, expressed his 'sadness' that MSPs backed the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Proposed by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, the Bill will go forward for further scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament. But Bishop Keenan equated assisted dying to suicide, claiming the law would normalise the idea of someone taking their own life, as he urged politicians to focus on caring for people to live. Mr McArthur said equating assisted dying and suicide was 'regrettable'. 'It is hard to believe that any parliamentarian could support what will effectively be the creation of a state suicide service,' the Bishop said. 'Politicians should be working hard to provide the support necessary for people to live, not give them a lethal concoction of drugs to die. 'At a time when suicide is on the rise in Scotland and we are doing our best to reduce it, what message are we sending when we say that suicide is the right choice provided it is overseen by a doctor? 'Laws like this normalise suicide and, with it, the false idea that some people's lives are beyond hope. 'This dangerous legislation devalues human life and puts our most vulnerable brothers and sisters under terrible pressure to take their lives prematurely. 'When vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled, express concerns about being a burden, the appropriate response is not to suggest that they have a duty to die. 'Rather, it is to commit ourselves to meeting their needs and providing the care and compassion they need to help them live. 'I urge every MSP to consider the great dangers inherent in assisted suicide legislation and to focus their energies on ensuring we provide better palliative care, giving everyone access to modern pain relief and the highest quality of care.' This is a watershed moment for compassion. MSPs have today taken a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people. #ScotsForDignityhttps:// — Dignity in Dying (@dignityindying) May 13, 2025 Mr McArthur, who is the third MSP in Holyrood's history to table a Bill on assisted dying, said he understood there would always be opposition to the legislation. 'This is about putting in place more choice, it's not about any obligation,' he told BBC Radio Scotland. 'Indeed, for medical practitioners, I think there needs to be a robust conscientious objection to ensure that their choices are respected.' He added: 'But I think referring to suicide is regrettable. 'I know a number of mental health charities, for example in Australia, have reflected that the mindset of an individual considering suicide could not be more different than the mindset of somebody faced with a terminal diagnosis, who's desperate to live, desperate to get the most out of the life that they have left.'
Glasgow Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Assisted dying Bill ‘devalues human life', says top Bishop
John Keenan, the Bishop of Paisley and the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, expressed his 'sadness' that MSPs backed the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Proposed by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, the Bill will go forward for further scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament. But Bishop Keenan equated assisted dying to suicide, claiming the law would normalise the idea of someone taking their own life, as he urged politicians to focus on caring for people to live. Mr McArthur said equating assisted dying and suicide was 'regrettable'. 'It is hard to believe that any parliamentarian could support what will effectively be the creation of a state suicide service,' the Bishop said. 'Politicians should be working hard to provide the support necessary for people to live, not give them a lethal concoction of drugs to die. 'At a time when suicide is on the rise in Scotland and we are doing our best to reduce it, what message are we sending when we say that suicide is the right choice provided it is overseen by a doctor? 'Laws like this normalise suicide and, with it, the false idea that some people's lives are beyond hope. 'This dangerous legislation devalues human life and puts our most vulnerable brothers and sisters under terrible pressure to take their lives prematurely. 'When vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled, express concerns about being a burden, the appropriate response is not to suggest that they have a duty to die. 'Rather, it is to commit ourselves to meeting their needs and providing the care and compassion they need to help them live. 'I urge every MSP to consider the great dangers inherent in assisted suicide legislation and to focus their energies on ensuring we provide better palliative care, giving everyone access to modern pain relief and the highest quality of care.' This is a watershed moment for compassion. MSPs have today taken a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people. #ScotsForDignityhttps:// — Dignity in Dying (@dignityindying) May 13, 2025 Mr McArthur, who is the third MSP in Holyrood's history to table a Bill on assisted dying, said he understood there would always be opposition to the legislation. 'This is about putting in place more choice, it's not about any obligation,' he told BBC Radio Scotland. 'Indeed, for medical practitioners, I think there needs to be a robust conscientious objection to ensure that their choices are respected.' He added: 'But I think referring to suicide is regrettable. 'I know a number of mental health charities, for example in Australia, have reflected that the mindset of an individual considering suicide could not be more different than the mindset of somebody faced with a terminal diagnosis, who's desperate to live, desperate to get the most out of the life that they have left.'
South Wales Guardian
14-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Assisted dying Bill ‘devalues human life', says top Bishop
John Keenan, the Bishop of Paisley and the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, expressed his 'sadness' that MSPs backed the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Proposed by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, the Bill will go forward for further scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament. But Bishop Keenan equated assisted dying to suicide, claiming the law would normalise the idea of someone taking their own life, as he urged politicians to focus on caring for people to live. Mr McArthur said equating assisted dying and suicide was 'regrettable'. 'It is hard to believe that any parliamentarian could support what will effectively be the creation of a state suicide service,' the Bishop said. 'Politicians should be working hard to provide the support necessary for people to live, not give them a lethal concoction of drugs to die. 'At a time when suicide is on the rise in Scotland and we are doing our best to reduce it, what message are we sending when we say that suicide is the right choice provided it is overseen by a doctor? 'Laws like this normalise suicide and, with it, the false idea that some people's lives are beyond hope. 'This dangerous legislation devalues human life and puts our most vulnerable brothers and sisters under terrible pressure to take their lives prematurely. 'When vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled, express concerns about being a burden, the appropriate response is not to suggest that they have a duty to die. 'Rather, it is to commit ourselves to meeting their needs and providing the care and compassion they need to help them live. 'I urge every MSP to consider the great dangers inherent in assisted suicide legislation and to focus their energies on ensuring we provide better palliative care, giving everyone access to modern pain relief and the highest quality of care.' This is a watershed moment for compassion. MSPs have today taken a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people. #ScotsForDignityhttps:// — Dignity in Dying (@dignityindying) May 13, 2025 Mr McArthur, who is the third MSP in Holyrood's history to table a Bill on assisted dying, said he understood there would always be opposition to the legislation. 'This is about putting in place more choice, it's not about any obligation,' he told BBC Radio Scotland. 'Indeed, for medical practitioners, I think there needs to be a robust conscientious objection to ensure that their choices are respected.' He added: 'But I think referring to suicide is regrettable. 'I know a number of mental health charities, for example in Australia, have reflected that the mindset of an individual considering suicide could not be more different than the mindset of somebody faced with a terminal diagnosis, who's desperate to live, desperate to get the most out of the life that they have left.'
