EUROPE/SPAIN - Over one hundred Catholic organisations will take part in 12 November protest against law which ignores parents’ right to choose the kind of education they want for their children

Madrid (Fides Service) - Spain’s National Catholic confederation of parents of families and parents of pupils(CONCAPA) together with 8 other educational organisations has organised a demonstration in Madrid on 12 November at 5pm to protest against a proposed Education Bill (LOE). Already over one hundred civil and diocesan associations have pledged support for the initiative. The Spanish Catholic Bishops are also giving the protest full support because they say parents have the right and the duty to protest against a law which violates certain basic rights recognised by Spain’s Constitution.
In the Manifesto the organisers say the reform “ignores rights and freedoms recognised by our Constitution regarding education: the right of parents to choose the type of education they want for their children; the right to receive free basic compulsory schooling; parent’s right to choose any school; the right of private schools to receive public funds; the right to open and run centres of education”. They also say “public authorities have no right to educate citizens but they have the duty to guarantee parents freedom to choose the type of education for their children”. They also point out that with this law religious instruction would be put on one side.
On 28 September the standing committee of the Bishops’ Conference issued a statement “With regard to the proposed organic bill on education” expressing deep concern (see Fides 4/10/2005). The Conference spokesman said the Bishops fully support the November 12 protest because the proposed law “violates fundamental rights… the State cannot take the place of the family, rather it must be at the service of families who must be free to choose the type of education they want for their children”. The Council for the Laity of Madrid archdiocese has encouraged church movements, associations and individual Catholics to take part in the protest. Cardinal Antonio Mª Rouco Varela archbishop of Madrid has urged people to take part and many bishops have said they will be present. According to Ignacio Arsuaga president of HazteOir platform “this law is an attack on parents who want to decide how to educate their children. People who believe in individual freedoms and the importance of good education and excellent cultural formation should realise that it is a duty to take part in this protest”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/11/2005, righe 31, parole 438)