A Catholic bishop has accused local councillors in Scotland of orchestrating a “hostile” attempt to diminish the church’s influence over education.

William Nolan, the Bishop of Galloway, linked the movement to remove the voting rights of religious representatives on council education boards to renewed calls for Catholic schools to be abolished in response to sectarian violence in Glasgow.

Bishop Nolan, who has urged parishioners to become more engaged in politics, said that the debates had created a “hostile environment” for Catholics.

Nearly a third of councils are considering stripping church leaders of their right to vote.

Scottish law states that there must be three church representatives on committees. However, councillors in Perth and Kinross found that while the law states that religious representation is mandatory it does not say whether they have a right to vote on policy.

The council removed voting rights from religious representatives in May after a decision to close a non-denominational school was swung by the votes of two members of the Church of Scotland.