http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=12065

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What parents need to do is stop whining that the catholic church teaches catholicism to their children. They need to tell the government to stop funding catholic (ie exlusionist) schools with the general taxpayer's money.

If the schools want to be really catholic, and pander only to super religious backwards maniacs, they should do so but NOT WITH MY MONEY.

I don't know why people here keep expecting the catholic church to change with the times. Surely people have copped that the catholic church doesn't care one little bit about reality and that if you don't like it, you should find another faith. You don't have to be catholic to be Irish -- you don't.

They need to start a twelve step program for the Irish who define themselves as catholic despite not believing the vast majority of catholic doctrine.

...because, of course, what parents *want* for their children is irrelevant.

Why?
I went to a Catholic school and I'm too happy about it!
My children will go to a Catholic school too!
I was taught Catholicism at home but my parents left the desicion to me and my brothers wether we want to continue being in a Catholic school or not.
But that was out of debate for us all.
The Catholic school has done nothing bad to us, but taught me 7 languages which I'm really proud of.
And in this Catholic school I met the best looking and best guy of the world!
... anyway, my children will go to a Catholic school and will be taught Catholicism at school.
When my children get older, I'll let them decide, but a 5- year old child cannot decide in what school it wants to go!
I will NEVER allow my child to sit beside bully children in a public school, NEVER!

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Lilac,

we're talking about people who aren't happy with being taught superstition and fallacy in school -- not about people who are happy with it.

Do you think kids should be forced to go to catholic school?

But flakie, you are the one who generalizes everything, not I!
You say, it should stop!
You should say that it should stop for people who don't like it!
If many people like it that way, why shouldn't it continue like this?
You and people like you are not the only creatures on earth, don't forget that!
It's really egocentrical what you are saying here.
And how dare you to call it superstition and fallacy?
I don't know what Irish Catholic schools are like, but in Poland (= most Catholic country on earth) it's all pretty easy going and the relationship between pupils and teachers (= priests, nuns) is fantastic and really cool.
And it's not all about the money! Most priests even don't have a car where I'm from. They have to walk 4 kilometres to the shop and that during a Polish winter- I'm talking about -30°C!!!
Flakie, you REALLY need to stop generalizing everything!

It depends on how old they are.
As I said, a 5 -year old child cannot say in what school it wants to go, but if it doesn't feel comfortable it doesn't have to go- there are many Catholic schools.
When the child is old enough, it decides on its own anyway!

[Edited on 11/2/2005 by Lilac]

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Interestingly Séamus Costello, former leader of the IRSM said he did not oppose Catholic schools as they provided them with most of their membership.

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"John Bull has got his hand down your pants and his fist around your bollox and you can't see it."

Is there any evidence of popular discontent with Catholic and Protestant schools in this country? I seem to remember a survey last year which stated that over 80% of the population as being happy to send their children to Catholic schools.

f people want to have a multi or non-denominational school, the solution is simple, build it (it is what everyone else has had to do), and the state will pay for the teachers if the numbers are there.

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I still go to a Catholic school. I once skipped a few religion classes and was promptly told that if I didn't go to Religion, I would be kicked out of school. I was told [exact words] 'if ytou don't like it, go somewhere else'. For the record, it was a class devoted to teaching the evils of abortion.This followed the first half of 5th year, where a class a week was devoted entirely to teaching the evils of abortion. The class included videos and a book with pictures of aborted foetus.
I'm all for hearing balanced debate, but in a publically funded school, I was never told of the pro-choice side. It is a joke and an insult to democracy.

As I understand it, you are from Galway City?

Anyway, did you consult with you parents/guarians before skipping your religious classes?

Did you consult with teaching staff?

Did you notify the school of you intent to miss the classes?

Did you arrange for yourself to go to another class or place where you could be supervised when missing this calss?

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If parents decide to send their children to a Catholic school then that is up to them. I certainly don't feel that children should be forced to go to state schools. I think we would be better off discussing the threats that a certain other religion poses to civilisation as we know it, but that probably wouldn't be very politically correct.

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MJ Coughlan,
Waterford City.

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