Sir, – Fr Aelred Magee ("Are Irish Catholic schools really Catholic anymore?", Rite & Reason, November 10th) poses what he sees as a central question (and one which your readers must have often asked themselves), "What is the specific content of the Catholic ethos?"
He singularly fails to provide an answer anywhere in his article. He does not tell us how “the Catholic ethos” or “distinctive identity” is expressed or imparted. A Catholic school, we are vaguely told, must have “Christ at the centre”, but how? Mumbled prayers before and after class are no more than meaningless trimmings. And while administrators and teachers living good Catholic lives are doubtless edifying, it does not exclusively define a Catholic school.
The essence of any school is the classroom. Apart from the religious instruction period, the curriculum pursued in a Catholic school hardly differs from curriculums elsewhere. I’m sure Fr Magee is too good an educationalist to subscribe to such denominational distortions as “Catholic history”, ”Catholic literature ” and so on. (Come to think of it , Catholic chemistry might be useful in a discussion about transubstantiation!)
So, if it is not possible or educationally desirable to promote doctrinal beliefs during the course of the teaching day, where does that leave the poor, elusive Catholic ethos ? – Yours, etc,
JOHN A MURPHY,
Cork.
A chara, – Fr Aelred Magee assumes that Roman Catholic schools are good for religious faith formation. That was the general assumption up to 50 years ago.
Then everything changed!
A new relationship of openness between church and world and an emerging theological reassessment of the relationship between sacred and secular questioned religious education as practised then. It asked whether a cocooned denominational education was adequate to the pressing need for mature adult faith formation that could enter into dialogue with the secular world. Many parishes took up the cudgels and became vibrant as they took on responsibility for faith formation and a new sacramental approach, for all age groups, with adulthood in view. The new role of school-based religious education was to deepen a religious and ethical understanding through critical thinking about all religions and none. The 1970s was a great time for me to be a Roman Catholic!
My question for Irish educators today is, what is our goal as we celebrate 50 years since Vatican II, adulthood or continued clericalism? – Is mise,
IRENE NÍ MHÁILLE,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Fr Aelred Magee asks some hard questions for the many of us who send our children to our local Catholic school. While the majority of the population may describe themselves as Catholic, studies suggest that only a smaller percentage adhere to the core tenets of their faith. Perhaps we take comfort in being culturally Catholic only, enjoying the social rituals of baptism and communion celebrations without the moral dilemma of what the consequences might be for our lifestyles if we were to live and breath the values underpinning our faith. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BROWNE,
Templeogue,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Fr Aelred Magee asks, “Who feels threatened by the reality of denominational education? And, more importantly, why?”
Well surely Fr Aelred must appreciate that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students will inevitably feel threatened by “the reality of denominational education”? Whatever about their parents (who may wish their child to conform to the religious and societal status quo), the LGBT student may indeed feel “threatened”.
Why is it that Fr Aelred fails to consider the feelings of the student in the care of denominational education? Why is it only the concerns of the educators and parents that are considered?
Fr Aelred writes, “A Catholic school distinguishes itself by communicating and handing on foundational Catholic values and beliefs”. Indeed it does. But the question is – in view of the results of the recent marriage equality referendum – are these “Catholic values and beliefs” seen by a majority of Irish people to be Christian values and beliefs? Apparently not. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN KELLY,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.