Religious education in schools

Sir, – Alexander O’Hara writes: “Whether the teacher is a Catholic or not, if they are hired to teach in a Catholic primary school, they must teach the religious education curriculum.” (“Religious education is not being taught professionally”, Opinion & Analysis, April 22nd.)

I never cease to be baffled by the Catholic Church’s desire to have Catholic belief taught by teachers who do not believe a word they are saying. – Yours, etc,

JOHN GOODWILLIE,

Crumlin,

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Dublin.

Sir, – Alexander O’Hara argues that teachers, while paid by the State, are obliged to provide religious education as “they teach on Church-owned property”.

Who provides capital grants for the building, renovation and upkeep of these properties? Who pays for heating, electricity and insurance?

Indeed, who paid compensation for the historic child protection failures in church-run institutions?

It is high time we transferred ownership, management and responsibility for all schools to the State.

This would probably involve a constitutional referendum. – Yours, etc,

SEÁN RYAN,

Castleconnell,

Co Limerick.

A chara, – Speaking from personal experience, the majority of our children having received their First Communion and Confirmation will not darken the door of any church again except to attend weddings or funerals.

At those ceremonies they will not know any of the responses or whether to sit, stand or kneel.

The last day of primary education is usually, and sadly, the last day of any religious engagement of our young people.

And finally, a chara, if primary schools in Ireland did not prepare children for the aforementioned sacraments, they would not, by and large, get that preparation at home. – Is mise,

PAT BURKE WALSH,

Ballymoney,

Gorey.