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Volume 1 (1999/2000)
Issue
1 (March 1999)
Issue
2 (Nov. 1999)
Issue 3 (Dec. 1999)
Issue 4 (Feb. 2000)
Issue 5 (March 2000)
Issue 6 (April 2000)
Issue
7 (May 2000)
Volume 2 (2000/2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2000)
Issue 2 (Oct. 2000)
Issue 3 (Jan. 2001)
Issue 4 (March 2001)
Issue 5 (April 2001)
Issue 6 (May 2001)
Volume 3 (2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2001)
Issue 2 (Nov. 2001)
Categories
Sport: 1
2 3
Lifestyles: 1 2
3
Commentary: 1 2
3
Review: 1 2
3
Writing: 1 2
3
Event: 1 2
3
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Patrick Nulty
Riversdale CC
Traditionally the relationship between church and state
in Ireland has been a close one. Since the establishment of the Irish
Free State in 1922 the Catholic Church, more than any other institution
in the State, has influenced the direction of government policy both directly
and indirectly. In the last decade the implementation of the so-called
'liberal agenda' in areas like divorce and birth control has weakened
Church control somewhat. However, the power and influence of the Catholic
Church should not be underestimated, particularly in areas like education.
The Catholic Church as an institution has had a mixed history
when it comes to the caring of children. In the industrial schools and
orphanages of 1950's Ireland run predominantly by members of religious
orders there was physical and sexual abuse of children. Although the majority
of the religious were not directly involved in abuse, it is clear that
many people were complicit in hiding cases of abuse and protecting the
identity of abusers. There are many examples of priests simply being transferred
to another parish when questions about their conduct were asked. Some
believe that the actions of individual priests are not directly related
to Catholic teaching, however I disagree fundamentally with this view.
Many of the children in orphanages and industrial schools would have been,
in the eyes of the Catholic Church, the product of 'sin', meaning that
they were born out of wedlock and were treated with contempt. In fact,
it should have been the State, rather than the Church, that should have
had responsibility in this area. It was this lack of political action
and accountability that allowed people in influential positions to behave
in such an appalling manner. It must also be recognised that many members
of religious orders did try to provide their students with an education
with little or no involvement or interest from the State.
Today the Church still has an undue influence over the education
of young people. The Archbishop of Dublin, Desmond Connell, the right
to appoint people onto the Board of Management of both primary and secondary
schools that fall under his influence. As Ireland becomes increasingly
multi-cultural and secular the teaching of Religious Education and the
power of the church to appoint people to school boards must change. In
my opinion schools that are funded by the State should not be used as
a platform for religious propaganda and misinformation which is currently
the case. I have no objection to people practising any religious faith
they chose but school is not the place, as it is now, to assert the superiority
of one faith over another. In primary education for example the Roman
Catholic sacrament of confirmation is central to the final year of primary
education. As a result of this young children are fed information relating
to complex theological questions and both parents and children who question
any aspect of the confirmation ceremony are made to feel like pariahs.
While it could be argued that parents can choose which school to send
their children the vast majority of parents simply send their child to
their local school and in most cases have very little input into the ethos
of the school.
Despite these problems there has been progress in reducing
Church influence in our schools. The introduction of the Relationships
and Sexuality Education Programme proposed by former education minister
Niamh Bhreatnach is a clear sign that the outdated, self-righteous teaching
of the Catholic church on issues of personal morality are of no relevance
in the modern world. The introduction of religious studies onto the junior
certificate is not necessarily a bad thing provided it is not compulsory
and that all religions and philosophies are given equal importance on
the curriculum. If not, then the current unacceptable situation at second
level education will remain unresolved.
In conclusion, the power of the Catholic Church in our education
system must be challenged. It is one of the few remaining areas of Irish
life where it has undue influence. No other organisation has such control
over such an important aspect of Irish society. The only fair resolution
of this problem is to make all forms of religious education optional and
to remove the power of high ranking church officials to appoint people
to school boards. This would not effect anyone's right to religious worship
but would allow people of all religious and philosophical viewpoints to
feel respected in our education system.
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