AMERICA/ECUADOR - “Religious education is a right to defend,” affirm the Bishops of Ecuador

Quito (Agenzia Fides) – The Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador issued a statement to Fides on public education in the Country, and specifically on religious education. The document gives special recognition of the State's financial assistance to private schools, therefore recognising that the new Organic Law of Intercultural Education will make a significant contribution to freedom of education. However it is obvious that throughout the Country, most citizens are still excluded from this free education, because the Legislative Assembly has restricted the constitutional right whereby parents may choose their children's education according to their principles and religion. “This right is denied to all those who, for economic reasons, decide to attend the State centres,” the Bishops report said. Regarding the suppression of religious education, they stress: “As part of the curriculum, this teaching is something very different from catechesis and from faith education which is held in churches and places of worship. It is a lesson that integrates the religious tradition into the consciousness of the family and considers complete cultural training.”

The text of the Bishops continues: “We bishops of Ecuador are the voice of the majority of families in Ecuador, of many teachers and large sections of society (not just Catholics) who, now more than ever, sense the seriousness of formation as their primary responsibility and are not willing to give up their rights because of any political calculation or decrepit ideological prejudices.”

The Bishops conclude affirming that “only a formation based on reason and freedom, according to the family's religious and moral principles, may offer civil society the foundations for the common good under the rule of law.” The document ends with the complaint that this unconstitutional act goes against the rights of citizens and deserves a reaction from groups in society to show their disagreement. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 03/03/2011)