A group of university staff have objected to the use of a Catholic resource for relationships and sexuality education (RSE) recommended for Catholic schools mainly because it reiterates Catholic teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.

They have called on the Government to stop its introduction.

‘Flourish’ was developed by the Irish Bishops’ Conference for Catholic primary schools to supplement the National RSE program.

In a letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Education Minister Norma Foley, the group of university staff argue that Flourish “conflates” education on relationships and sexuality with a religious perspective on the topics.

They say it could form and shape negative views among children towards some sexualities and identities, and in some cases towards themselves.

Introductory documents published earlier this year set out that while RSE in Catholic schools should affirm that every human being “is loved by God as they are”, the “Church’s teaching in relation to marriage between a man and a woman cannot be omitted”.