CARDINAL Sean Brady has strongly rejected suggestions that Catholic schools are non-inclusive and said such claims are unfair and offensive. The Catholic Church received some criticism over the shortage of places in its primary schools in parts of Dublin last September, leaving children of other faiths and mostly from outside Ireland without a place until new schools were opened at short notice.
More than 95% of the country’s 3,300 primary schools are run by the Catholic Church, although the hierarchy has given indications it may begin passing over their management in future.
Cardinal Brady, Primate of all Ireland, said he was frustrated by what he called superficial allegations that Catholic and other faith-based schools were divisive and inconsistent with a pluralist society.
“We are seeing here more a rejection of religion, or a caricature of religion, than an approach to education per se. When set against the evidence, this charge is an ill-informed caricature which simply doesn’t stack up,” he said. “In fact it is unjust and offensive to the excellent work and commitment of teachers and others who work in Catholic and other Christian schools.”
He said all Irish schools have done a magnificent job supporting the integration of people from diverse national, religious and ethnic backgrounds into communities across the country.
“Our schools have often taken the lead and set the standard for the rest of society in terms of welcome, tolerance and integration. It is due in no small part to the Christian ethos which already pervades Catholic and other denominational schools and which is deeply valued by so many parents.”
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin last week changed the enrolment policy of two primary schools to have them hold one-third of places for non-Catholic children and may extend the policy to meet demand, particularly for immigrant families.
Speaking at the Irish Primary Principals Network conference in Killarney, Cardinal Brady said he makes no apology for defending the right of Catholic parents and others to ensure an education for their children which conforms with their own religious and philosophical convictions.
“I unapologetically call on Catholic parents to support their Catholic schools as an inseparable part of their baptismal call to bring their children up in the atmosphere and ethos of the Catholic community, rooted in the Gospel of justice, truth, tolerance and love,” he said.
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