“Dear Sir,
It was heartening to peruse Carl O’Brien’s article regarding faith formation taking place outside school hours in Irish primary schools. (“News,” September 14th). The disestablishment of faith schooling hasn’t been successful, and it’s unclear how it can be.”).
After scrutinizing the numerous horrifying accounts of the sexual and physical abuse inflicted on children in religious institutions over the past fortnight, as well as bearing witness to first-hand accounts broadcasted on RTÉ’s Liveline, it appears that attitudes towards this matter might finally be shifting.
Transferring faith formation to extracurricular classes does not necessitate the demise of rituals such as Communions and Confirmations, a prospect of concern to some. Rather, it signifies the end of isolating and singling out those children who opt out and have previously been made to feel different, ousted to the fringes of the classroom. It marks no longer presenting a specific faith as an incontrovertible fact and increases the scope for teaching professionals from differing faith backgrounds or those of no faith at all.
As citizens of an increasingly diverse and pluralistic democracy, it’s imperative that our educational establishments reflect this reality.
In the interim, while we seek political guidance on this matter, it seems reasonable to suggest that schools and their associated religious patrons might offer some concessions to parents desiring to opt their children out of faith formation classes.
Parents require more explicit information about how their children’s time will be allocated, due to the current two and a half hours per week dedicated to religious instruction in schools.
Yours Sincerely,
Aoife Cassady,
Education Equality,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.”