Mail from Across the Pond

My friend James Preece writes from the country that used to be England:

Yesterday our government passed the “Children, Schools and Families” bill which, among other things, will make it illegal for Catholic School *not* to have sex education classes. It also makes it illegal for parents to withdraw their children from these classes once they reach the age of fifteen. To quote our minister for schools…

“A Catholic faith school can say to their pupils we believe as a religion contraception is wrong but what they can’t do is therefore say that they are not going to teach them about contraception to children, how to access contraception, or how to use contraception. What this changes is that for the first time these schools cannot just ignore these issues or teach only one side of the argument. They also have to teach that there are different views on homosexuality. They cannot teach homophobia. They must explain civil partnership. They must give a balanced view on abortion, they must give both sides of the argument, they must explain how to access an abortion, the same is true on contraception as well.”

The requirement to provide information on how to access abortions may mean our Catholic schools must cease to exst – however, the bill has yet to become law because it must pass through the house of lords (it’s now only a matter of time).

By the way, did I mention that the Bishop’s Conference agency “Catholic Education Services” said that the bill was to be welcomed and that not a single Bishop has publicly spoken against it? Not even the Bishop in charge of schools.

I mention this, because while the English blogs are all over it, the American ones don’t seem to be aware and it’s a situation in dire need of prayers and attention.

More info here, here, here, here, and here.

Also, a friend writes from Ireland:

I am not sure if you are following the ‘cafuffle’ over sex education in the UK and proposed faith school amendments.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8529595.stm

On another note…subrosa..

Here in Ireland, we are still reeling from the whole tragedy of abuse. However media outlets are now changing the tone and direction of the conversation on radio and in newspapers. There is a rising antagonism against the bishops but primarily Benedict XVI insistent that he himself apologises for the abuse.

The perception is that the Pope is almost akin to a CEO summoning his “regional managers” to Rome.

What surprised me was the ignorance of people, even those whom I thought would have been keyed in. I was speaking to a Catholic social worker now working the the independent body established by the Irish Bishops – The National Office for Safeguarding Children – that oversees implementation of child safeguarding procedures in every diocese and parish. In reference to the Papal summit with the Irish Bishops she asked: Are they sworn to secrecy?

It is amazing the widespread ignorance, and at the same time not surprised at the subtlety of the “Da Vinci Code” attitude of skulking bishops and secret meetings has gripped the popular imagination of Catholics here. One radio commentator even invoked (wrongly of course) papal infallibility as the reason why in the past the Pope was not to be criticised.

Like a Van der Graaff generator, there is a definite media agenda working away, as I am sure it did in 1930s Germany.

Keep us in the prayers.

It always seems like the UK is about ten years ahead of the States in social trends and pathologies and Ireland is about ten years behind us. Dunno why, but that’s always the impression I get.