Parents who back denominational education for their children must insist that religious ethos is defended, Archbishop Michael Neary has said.
Speaking at the launch of two new texts on Religious Education for Catholic schools, the Archbishop of Tuam insisted that “we have Catholic schools because parents want them” and, therefore, “it is parents who must insist that the religious ethos of our schools is respected and not abandoned”.
Reflecting on the continuing relevance of denominational schooling in a changing Ireland Dr Neary continued: “In an increasingly pluralist society, where there are more and more people of different faiths, we have to be clear about the difference between Catholic schools and other schools. We have to be clear about our own identity, what our schools are about and why they are important.
“It is faith that makes Catholic Schools Catholic and what makes Catholic education different.”
Acknowledging those voices which have called both for divestment of Catholic schools or greater provision of non-denominational education, the Archbishop stressed: “For those who do not want faith education for their children, it is appropriate that non-faith schools be provided.”
Archbishop Neary’s words came just days after a renewed call for divestment from the former chair of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism at primary level, Professor John Coolahan, who has repeatedly criticised the Irish Bishops for the slow pace of change, despite a lack of clear evidence that significant numbers of parents want a change from denominational education.
