Catholic Educational Services compromising souls

As the struggle continues between modernism and orthodoxy, we once again see a line drawn in Britain. It is there that an amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill is being debated and there that it would seem that the Catholic Education Service (CES) has made a deal with the devil.

The new amendment, which deals with the mandatory Personal Social and Health Education program, has been supported by the CES; however, "does not give schools freedom to oppose abortion, contraception and homosexual activity on moral grounds" (Lifesite News). How can this be? How can an institutional body of the Catholic Bishops agree or support a bill that does not give Catholic schools the ability teach things in a fashion to avoid intrinsic evils?

Due to this compromise, secular perspectives on abortion, contraception and homosexuality will be forced to be taught. Unfortunately, the domain where these subjects will be presented will not be the great halls of universities; rather, these subjects will be presented to the most vulnerable of society who are the most easily influenced and affected by loaded words. Sadly, not even children in Catholic schools will be safe from modernist clutches, as those who are to defend them are willing to compromise on moral truth.

The CES presented this statement on their website regarding the amendment:

CESEW Statement regarding Amendment 70 to the Children, Schools and Families Bill (23 February 2010)
Following the Third Reading of the Children, Schools and Families Bill, Amendment 70 has been accepted as part of the Bill. The amendment is as follows:

Page 14, line 6 [Clause 11], at end insert—

‘(7A) Subsections (4) to (7) are not to be read as preventing the governing body or head teacher of a school within subsection (7B) from causing or allowing PSHE to be taught in a way that reflects the school’s religious character.

(7B) A school is within this subsection if it is designated as a school having a religious character by an order made by the Secretary of State under section 69(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.’.

The governing bodies and head teachers of Voluntary Aided schools are required to conduct their schools in accordance with their Instrument of Government and the Trust Deed under which they operate. The provisions of the amendment will enable schools with a religious character to fulfil these requirements in the teaching of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education, which includes Sex and Relationships Education (SRE).

The teaching of all aspects of the curriculum in Catholic schools reflects their religious ethos. In the same way, the SRE in Catholic schools will be rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching of the profound respect for the dignity of all human persons.

ENDS

This statement rings out as if everything is okay and dignity will be preserved. In fact, reading the statement I might even have the faint impression that Theology of the Body would be taught in the schools from this point on. However, you only need to consider the statement of Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. (The following quote was taken from his response in Times Online on February 23, 2010)

Sir, Faith schools will not be able to opt out of statutory lessons on sex and relationship education when the legislation comes into effect in September 2011. This includes education about contraception and the importance of stable relationships, including marriage and civil partnerships. It will not allow the teaching of homophobia. All maintained schools and academies will be required to teach the full programmes of study. This includes promoting equality and encouraging acceptance of diversity. All schools must have a zero tolerance approach to bullying and we have issued specific guidance on tackling homophobic bullying.


While schools with a religious character will be free, as now, to express the views of their faith, what they cannot do is suggest that their views are the only ones. All schools will be required to cover in their teaching of personal, social and health education the full range of content prescribed in the statutory programme of study for secondary schools and in the relevant parts of the new primary curriculum.

The bottom line is that all young people should receive accurate and balanced information and discrimination is prevented in all schools.

Ed Balls
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

(Taken from: Faith schools and homophobia)

Catholic institutions will be forced to say the path of Christ, the teachings of the Church are not the only way. Yet, this is something we should never and can never do, for Christ is the way, the truth and the life. We cannot lead children away from salvation, nor compromise with their moral education. As Catholics, we are called to be in the world, but not in it. How much more in the world can we be than substituting in secular definitions and concepts for divine morality? Our children are in desert wasteland of distraction and deceit and the last thing we should allow to happen is for that wasteland to enter our educational institutions, or the smoke of Satan to cloud the minds of our children further.

Presently, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is lobbying against the bill. Let us pray for them and all who are fighting against this atrocity so that integrity and morality of our children and Catholic teaching may remain intact, and the truth of human dignity may persevere.

Pax tecum.

U.K. Religious Schools Forced to Promote Abortion, Homosexuality under Sex-Ed Bill
Faith schools and homophobia
British government systematically attacking family values, Cardinal O'Brien states
CESEW Statement regarding Amendment 70 to the Children, Schools and Families Bill (23 February 2010)