Sir, – Regarding the place of religion in our schools, may I suggest an excellent model from my own life experience? I grew up in South Africa, where unlike our republic, the Catholic Church is a tiny, although well-respected, denomination. My sister and I were trained in the faith at wonderful catechism lessons given on a Saturday morning in our Johannesburg parish.
Parents made an affirmative decision to enrol their children in these little hubs of religious education, and although they technically stole from our weekends, we all had great fun. I completed my first communion and first confession within these groups – which were often led by Irish nuns.
The greatest advantage to this example? It left other children untroubled by religious ideas in school, and fostered a deeper, more enduring community of children as believers in their appropriate zone. – Yours, etc,
Dr SEAN
ALEXANDER SMITH,
Chao do Loureiro,
Lisbon.