The main Christian Churches are united in their determination to resist any moves by the Irish Government that would dilute the ethos of faith-based schools.

According to Irish Catholic, the Church of Ireland, Presbyterians and Methodists will stand firm with Catholic leaders in opposing legislation which would eliminate the distinctive character of denominational schools and deny parents the right to choose such an education for their children.

Proposals by the Advisory Group to the Government’s Forum on School Patronage contained a number of recommendations which threaten the ethos of denominational schools.

It is believed that the proposal to remove Rule 68, which states that ”a religious ethos should inform and vivify the whole work of the school” is the major concern.

A senior Catholic Church source said that the removal of the rule ”would mean that faith-based schools would effectively be prevented from being faith-based schools.

”We would be Catholic schools in name but would be prevented from doing anything active to preserve or even promote that ethos,” the source said.

Another major concern is the proposal in the draft report to reduce faith formation to merely a ‘discreet subject’ within the primary curriculum.

The forum proposed discussing the handover of some schools in 47 areas of the country in 18 different Catholic dioceses.

However, the thrust of the Churches’ concerns have moved away from the issue of divestment directly towards protecting the rights of so-called ‘stand alone’ schools, mostly Catholic, in communities where no faith-based school will be transferred to the State, according to the Irish Catholic.

Other proposals from the Advisory Group, chaired by Professor John Coolahan, 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.

Church leaders and educationalists are concerned that if the faith schools that remain are to enhance their authenticity, any threat to their ethos or to reduce the role of faith formation must be defeated.

In its submission, the Church of Ireland insisted that it ”cannot agree to regulations on religious instruction and/or education in our schools which might restrict the time we might give to teaching children about Christian faith”.