Often, the most interesting aspect of a survey is not the answers given but the questions asked. One of the first things the newly established lobby group EQUATE (Equality in Education) did was to commission a poll on people’s views on education. Between 77% and 87% of respondents answered “yes” to the questions asked, which...
Spun Out is a youth oriented website that is funded by, among others, the HSE and the inevitable Atlantic Philanthropies. It says its purpose is “to educate and inform our readers about the importance of holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally.” That’s a laudable aim, but a quick...
Ireland’s most recently ordained bishop, Alphonsus Cullinan, has said that the Church must continue to teach the truth about marriage in spite of May’s referendum result. Dr Cullinan, who is the bishop of Waterford and Lismore, was addressing a meeting of The Iona Institute last month in Dublin. His topic was, ‘Teaching the Truth about...
A decision this week by the High Court of Northern Ireland found that the jurisdiction’s abortion law is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights because it does not permit abortion in pregnancies involving either so-called “fatal foetal abnormalities” or sexual assault. Article 8 deals with the right to privacy and...
A Church of England ad has been banned from cinemas. The makers of Downton Abbey didn’t want mention of religion in the series. In this week’s Irish Catholic, I write that a new secular prudery seeks to banish religion from public view, not least from our screens. The new attitude calls to mind “the old Hays...
This week sees the 20th anniversary of the referendum that narrowly legalised divorce in Ireland back in 1995. Various media outlets are marking the occasion, chiefly by claiming that the Yes side was right about the effects of the referendum and the No side was wrong. (This leader in today’s Irish Times is a good...
In this blog I look at the “Ethics” section of the proposed “Education about Religious Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics” curriculum which is intended for primary schools. I ask whether it is compatible with faith-based instruction in denominational schools. The previous blog examined this issue in the context of the “Education about Religious Beliefs” (ERB) component (available here,...
The National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) recently launched a consultation paper on a proposed new curriculum for primary schools called “Education about Religion and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics”. This short piece analyses how likely it is that ERB will be compatible with the current way of teaching religion by primary schools with a faith-based...
Iona Director David Quinn appeared on RTE’s Claire Byrne Live to debate school admissions policies with barrister Paddy Monahan. The debate focused on the criteria on which school places are allotted in the event of a shortage. David Quinn argued that the State must ensure that enough school places exist for all who want them....
A report in last week’s Irish Catholic quotes teachers who say it is very hard to talk about their faith in….Catholic schools. The teachers attended The Iona Institute seminar on denominational schools a fortnight ago and spoke during the Q and A session. This news might come as a surprise to some but it shouldn’t....
