THE former Archbishop of Birmingham is locked in a row after defending Catholic schools in his new role as leader of the faith in England. The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, the new Archbishop of Westminster, was accused of driving worshippers away from the church by calling for more “indoctrination” in schools.
Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said: “Vincent Nichols wants schools to be even more in thrall to the Church. That’s just the approach they are belatedly rejecting in Ireland.
“The Archbishop hasn’t worked out the more he tries to impose Vatican values, the faster both adults and children will desert his church.
But the Archbishop gave a forthright defence of Catholic schools, saying they provided “a genuine service to our society at large”.
“Schools of a religious character are upfront, overt and very reasoned about the values that shape the education,” he said. “Whereas I think often those that would claim to be neutral are covert in the values they present to the children.”
The Archbishop, in a speech at Heythrop College, University of London, said in today’s society 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,” he added.
“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.
“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.”
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