Posted on 01/01/2008 2:56:24 PM PST by marshmallow
Catholic church under fire for promoting a hard line on 'immoral' teaching in schools
Roman Catholic bishops are to appear in front of a powerful committee of MPs amid fears that they are pushing a fundamentalist brand of their religion in schools. Bishops have called on parents, teachers and priests to strengthen the role of religion in education. In one case the Bishop of Lancaster, Patrick O'Donoghue, instructed Catholic schools across much of north-west England to stop 'safe-sex' education and place crucifixes in all classrooms.
He also wrote: 'Schools and colleges must not support charities or groups that promote or fund anti-life policies, such as Red Nose Day and Amnesty International, which now advocates abortion.'
In a 66-page document, O'Donoghue called on teachers to use science to teach about the 'truths of the faith', only mention sex within the 'sacrament of marriage', insist that contraception was wrong and emphasise natural family planning.
The Bishop of Leeds, Arthur Roche, sent a letter to parishes warning them that Catholic education was under threat following attempts by the local council to set up an inter-faith academy.
Barry Sheerman, chairman of the parliamentary cross-party committee on children, schools and families, said he had heard of other cases and felt that behind the scenes there was 'intense turmoil' about the future of Catholic education. 'A group of bishops appear to be taking a much firmer line and I think it would be useful to call representatives of the Catholic church in front of the committee to find out what is going on,' he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at observer.guardian.co.uk ...
“But the educational establishment would die”
And the down side of that is....?
By Jove, I think you've found the solution! :)
I'm sorry that you so completely missed the point.
It would take another Henry VIII to reform this “national church.” Factoring in things like the sports industry, which depends heavily on sports programs, pu;ishing and entertainment, the educational system amounts to a tenth of our national economy, about the proportion owned by the Catholic Church in England in 1530.
Oliver Cromwell was a great general and a bible-believing Christian who hated the sloth and corruption of some of the Anglican/Catholic hierarchy. Nevertheless, he would make a great Hezbollah leader had he lived today.
Religion aside, we forget just how great Cromwell was as a military leader. Not only was he a great general but he established the royal navy, ended the Dutch commercial supremacy, and frightened all the crowned heads of Europe. His Roundheads were as formidible as the Spanish Infantry had been. Now he had the means to project power whereever he chose. Then, all of a sudden he was gone and France especially breathed a sign of relief.
I’m somewhat familiar with GCC. How did you find the school with regard to it’s treatment of Catholicism?
Individual Catholic students get out what they put into the situation. There are opportunities to live and grow in faith; some students use them and thrive, and others don't.
Thanks for the insights.
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