Christianity should be “given priority” in schools, bishop says – The Irish News

The Bishop of Down and Connor has said Christianity deserves top billing over other religions in schools.
Bishop Alan McGuckian was reacting to a recent ruling of the UK Supreme Court, which found the provision of Christian religious education in Northern Ireland schools does not comply with human rights standards and is unlawful.
It follows an appeal brought by a pupil at a controlled primary school in Belfast and her father, arguing that the teaching of RE and collective worship breaches human rights.
Supreme Court judge, Lord Stephens, said this did not call for the secularisation of schools, with the family strongly supporting religious education “provided it does not amount to indoctrination”.
While noting the judgment does not apply to Catholic schools, Bishop McGuckian said he would challenge any notion that “Christianity should be given no priority in all schools,” stating this would be “ungrounded, unreasonable and illogical”.
“Christianity and the Judaeo Christian worldview, provides the value-based foundation for all that is good in western society and is deeply embedded within Human Rights legislation,” he said.
“Those who seek to have Christianity sidelined in our shared society are cutting off their noses to spite their face. The very values and principles on which they base their case are rooted in western civilisation which owes a great debt to the teachings of Christianity.”
While recognising that other world religions should be respected in an increasingly multi-cultural society, he said Christianity “centrally and uniquely” has provided the framework for values in western society.
“In schools across the western world, Christianity should, indeed, be given priority in our educational systems and everybody, including those of other faiths and none, should recognise and welcome this because of its foundational importance.”
While the Department of Education has said it will issue guidance to schools about the “complex” judgment in the near future, the issue has predictably caused a political divide.
The DUP’s Michelle McIlveen said Christian values had shaped “the moral character” of the school system for generations.
“That heritage is not something we apologise for, nor is it something we are prepared to see diminished,” she said.
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison said the ruling was “a welcome recognition” of a growing diversity in society and that it was positive to develop “a more objective, critical and pluralistic” approach that respects families of all faiths and none.
The SDLP’s Cara Hunter criticised those using the judgment to score political points, stating “schools don’t need another DUP culture war”.
Calling for clear guidance from the Department, she added: “It is right that schools are able to reflect the diversity of belief and non-belief in our society.”
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