AMERICA/VENEZUELA - “Keep God in School”: Week of Religious Instruction in Schools as new law wants to restict religious formation to the family

Thursday, 8 June 2006

Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - As teachers, parents and student representatives discuss a proposed new Education Law, the country is celebrating the Week of Religious Instruction in Schools 5 to 9 June. National coordinator Constantino Noé said that the slogan chosen this year "Keep God in School", aims to support a petition lodged by the Catholic Bishops of Venezuela to remove article 8 of the proposed new Law which excludes religion from the school curriculum. “We are receiving ever stronger support from RE teachers to maintain this education which offers pupils a beneficial grounding in human-Christian values” he said adding that this week a new draft of the Law will be presented to parliament.
Initiatives during the Week of Religious Instruction in Schools include a Mass for teachers and pupils presided by Cardinal Jorge Urosa at the San Bernardino da Siena church on 8 June; Education Forums at Merida and Guarenas; conferences at Punto Fijo and Ciudad Guayana; meetings in Valencia, Barinas, Margarita, San Juan and San Carlos; a student’s parade with religious banners at Puerto Cabello; exhibitions and meetings in various parts of the country.
Article 50 of the present law as agreed by the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference and the government, allows religious education up to 6th grade classes, and the teachers are trained by Church but paid by the state. However on 2 February this year the agreement was not confirmed and this meant the suspension of RE teachers’ salaries. Through its vice-president Bishop Roberto Lückert León the Bishops’ Conference called on the government to respect RE in schools rejecting the new law which abolishes RE in schools. Bishop Roberto Lückert said "RE in schools is supplementary to the education in the faith at home by the parents" while the government wants to restrict RE solely to the family. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/6/2006; righe 29, parole 390)


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