EUROPE/SPAIN - Family associations encourage objection of conscience to protest against teaching in school of Citizen Education fearing indoctrination of children

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - Family associations in Spain are concerned that Citizen Education soon to be compulsory subject in schools will mean government ‘indoctrination’ of children". They are preparing a Guide to Objection of Conscience, what to do and the consequences for children who do not attend these classes.
The Catholic Confederation of Catholic Parents has issued a statement "rejecting this move to indoctrinate our children” in which it says: “we will continue to teach our children to have respect for all people and their sexual choices, but that there exists only one family consisting of a male father and female mother and their children. We feel we have the right to prevent our children from experiencing psychological conflict in their education and the right to decide on their moral education, having recourse if necessary to objection of conscience and all other means necessary to protect them from indoctrination dangerously similar to the action taken under dictatorships."
A Catalan Family Group, Professionals for Ethics, Federation of Parents Associations issued similar statements. Spokesman Ramón Novella said, "Citizenship Education violates the fundamental right of parents to give children the same moral and religious education". The new subject is a means to transmit to the younger generations the government’s values and ideas on human sexuality and marriage, various types of families and similar ideology. The Association of “Professionals for Ethics” has issued a "Parents Guide" on the question and the risk of indoctrination for their children.
José Castro coordinator of Chequeescolar Platform which is organising massive objection of conscience said, "Claiming to protect homosexuals, the government intends to use the education system to propagate this sort of ideology, human sexuality responds not to natural and biological foundations but to cultural constructions. And parents are unawares."
The Spanish Family Forum has called on parents to exercise the right to objection of conscience and refuse an ideologised education for their children. Forum chairman Benigno Blanco, said government manipulation of the educational system in view of certain ideas about life recalls "totalitarianism of the 20th century because it is a violation of freedom of education and family right to be responsible for the moral education of their children." (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2006; righe 37, parole 481)
See Guide in Spanish
http://www.profesionalesetica.com/descargas/downloads/downl_206_1.pdf