A POWERFUL UN statement on church control of primary schooling in Irelandhas sparked alarm within the Catholic Church.
The Human Rights Commission said the Government needed to ensure that non-denominational primary education became widely available.
This was necessary in view of the increasingly diverse and multi-ethnic composition of the State.
It noted with "concern" the fact that the vast majority of Ireland's primary schools were privately-run denominational schools which had adopted a "religious integrated curriculum".
This deprived many parents and children who wished to have access to secular primary education.
The commission identified primary education as one of three priority areas on which it wanted an update within a year -- the other two dealt with detention and rendition.
The report is the strongest statement yet from the commission -- it suggested the integrated religious curriculum may be in breach of various articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
But last night the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) said that there was a danger than the UN Commission's statement could end up depriving parents of the right to send their children to Catholic Schools.
General secretary Monsignor Dan O'Connor said CPSMA had consistently supported the notion of diversity in educational providers as had members of the hierarchy.
But the "one-size-fits-all" approach would deprive parents of the right to send their children to Church schools. This was already happening where there was no choice but Educate Together multi-denominational schools.
"Ireland is still a country of believers," said Mgr O'Connor, who added that the recent census showed an increase in the Catholic population, mainly due to newcomers.
There was also an increase in the Anglican community and in the Muslim community.
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