The Archbishop of Westminster has given a forthright defence of Catholic schools.The schools give "a genuine service to our society at large", Archbishop Vincent Nichols said.
The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales said critics complained that "education of a religious nature is simply indoctrination".
He went on: "I would always want to reply, 'show me education that is value free'. There is no such thing as education that is value free.
"Schools of a religious character are upfront, overt and very reasoned about the values that shape the education. Whereas I think often those that would claim to be neutral are covert in the values that they present to the children."
The Archbishop, in a speech on Wednesday at Heythrop College, University of London, said that in today's society all nearly all social and economic activities were subjected to the 'efficiency test'.
"In other words, everything is broken down to clear objectives and attainments and each is given its price. Once this really takes hold, then education has truly entered the market place and its entire ecological system is threatened with pollution. When everything has a price then nothing has lasting value."
He added: "Our society also needs places which are neither commercial nor political. We need places which nurture what are so rightly called 'civic virtues'. These virtues, such as trust, respect, fundamental honesty, a genuine concern of the other, and for the common good, are essential.
"Both commerce and political life depend upon them. Yet neither commerce nor political life is aimed at generating these virtues - although that can indeed happen.
"Rather the generators of civic virtue are precisely the other aspects of life: charities, voluntary and faith-based groups, the family and, of course, the school."
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