EUROPE/SPAIN - “When what is at stake is a fundamental right like freedom of conscience and teaching - everyone, Catholics in particular, must unite in its defence": Bishops' second statement on new education law

Friday, 22 June 2007

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - A second statement on Spain's new education law was issued by the country's Catholic Bishops at the end of a Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bishops Conference held in Madrid 19 to 21 June. In its first such statement issued on February 28, 2007 the Committee said the law failed to regulate the teaching of Religion in a way that guarantees the rights of all concerned and does not violate the right of parents to decide how their children are educated (see Fides 2/3/2007). This time the Bishops thought it opportune to speak on the issues of new labour regulations for teachers of religion and a new school subject "Education to citizenship”.
With regard to the first question the Bishops say the Royal Decree on labour regulations for teachers of religion, made public on 9 June, "fails to respect the Agreement on Teaching established by the Spanish government and the Holy See to guarantee Catholics the religious freedom recognised in a generic manner in the Spanish Constitution". The Bishops say: “we cannot exclude opportune legal action to obtain respect for the juridical order in force which safeguards the rights of all citizens".
With regard to "Education to citizenship”, with concerns the formation of the pupil's moral conscience, the Bishops say the act "implicates a serious violation of the original and inalienable right of parents to decide with the school, on the moral formation to be given to the children". If this subject “had not invaded the area of the formation of conscience and had restricted itself for example to the explanation of the constitutional order and the universal declaration of human rights, it would have been acceptable and even perhaps welcome”. This new subject is causing growing concern among the pupils' parents and has put schools in a difficult position because "Catholic schools, or schools inspired by Christian doctrine, will be obliged to include in their programme a subject which is not in keeping with their ideals "; and "state run schools. Losing their compulsory ideological neutrality, will impose on those who opt for Catholic religion and morals a different moral formation not of their choice…This is a violation the rights of all pupils, Catholics and non, because no one can impose a moral formation not chosen by the pupil or the parents", the statement continues.
The Bishops' Standing Committee urges everyone to "act with responsibility and commitment with regard to a subject unacceptable in form and content", since "the gravity of the situation does not permit passive or weak positions". It is necessary to have resource to "every legitimate means to protect the right of conscience and teaching, which is what is at stake". The Bishops conclude: "When what is at stake is a fundamental right like freedom of conscience and teaching - everyone, Catholics in particular, must unite in its defence". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/6/2007; righe 37, parole 505)


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