The Forum on the future patronage of Catholic schools has recommended the abolition of the rule which allows denominational schools to permeate the school day with their ethos.

The last public meeting of the Forum took place yesterday. The recommendations of the Advisory Group to the Forum were presented Professor John Coolahan.

One of the key recommendations is that schools in 47 selected areas be looked at with a view to transferring some of them from Catholic patronage to other patrons bodies.

However, the Advisory Group also made a series of recommendations that will impact on school identity and ethos.

One of the most important recommendations concerns the abolition of Rule 68 of the Rules for National Schools which ”a religious ethos should inform and vivify the whole work of the school”

Other proposals include setting aside several classes a week to teach primary school children about ethics and world religions; making the display of religious artefacts and art “inclusive of all belief systems in the school”; celebrate the festivals of different religious beliefs; ensuring the communal prayers and hymns are “respectful of the beliefs and culture of all children in the school.

Commenting on the proposals unveiled yesterday Dr John Murray of The Iona Institute said they would “badly undermine the identity of denominational schools”. .

In a statement today, Dr Murray said The Iona Institute welcomed plans to transfer a number of Catholic schools to other organisations.

He added: “Denominational schools must of course be respectful towards those of other faiths and none, but not at the cost of their own identity and ethos.

“Some of the proposals unveiled at the Forum yesterday would undoubtedly have the effect of badly undermining the ethos of denominational schools. For example, one of the proposals seems to suggest that non-Christian symbols be given equal prominence with Christian symbols in Christian schools, or that Christian symbols should be given equal prominence with Muslim symbols in Muslim schools.”

He continued: “Is the Advisory Group suggesting Christian prayers might show a lack of respect to other faiths? Does the proposal to abolish Rule 68 mean that denominational schools will no longer be allowed to permeate the school day with the ethos of the school?”

Dr Murray concluded: “The Iona Institute believes that a large number of Catholic schools should be transferred to new patron bodies so as to meet demand for a non-Catholic or non-denominational education.

“But the ethos and identity of the remaining denominational schools should not then be undermined. We call on the Advisory Group to the Forum to seriously reconsider some of their proposals and affirm the right of denominational schools to be true to their identities.”