The Catholic Church in Scotland has criticised the Scottish Greens, who they say are seeking the removal of Catholic schools from the education system.
In an unprecedented move, Scotland’s Catholic bishops issued a strongly-worded statement about comments made by the Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman this week in her amendment to the Religious Education/Religious Observance Bill currently going through parliament.
The Catholic Church believes that the Bill is specifically intended to undermine Catholic schools. Sources close to the Bishops Conference of Scotland believe the pupil opt-out clause embedded in the Bill is a stealth attack. Ms Chapman sits on Holyrood’s Education, Children and Young People committee. In an exchange with the Labour MSP, Paul O’Kane during Tuesday’s debate, she said: “Religious observance are acts of worship, especially when one faith is prioritised over another. These should have no place in state schools. The Scottish Green position is quite clear: there should be separation of church and state.”
The Catholic Church says these comments are a clear threat to the existence of Catholic schools which make up the overwhelming majority of faith schools in Scotland. A spokesperson for the Catholic Church said: “There is an intrinsic link between Religious Education and Religious Observance in Catholic schools. Religious Education gives knowledge of faith, while Religious Observance is the living expression. One without the other risks empty ritual or solely ‘head’ knowledge.
“Separating them suggests that the Scottish Government, and those who voted for this amendment, do not value their role in Catholic schools. Furthermore, we are concerned that this amendment has the effect of changing the long-standing conscience clause in section 9 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and removes important rights for parents.
“We continue to be disappointed with the policy of the Scottish Green party, as confirmed by Maggie Chapman during the Committee session on Tuesday, to campaign for the removal of denominational schools from the Scottish Education system. The inclusion of denominational schools in the state system in Scotland continues to be an example of a diverse, pluralistic, democratic education system in action.
“The Catholic Church looks forward to constructive engagement in Stage 3 of the Bill, and to working collaboratively with government, parliament, and other stakeholders to ensure that any final legislation respects both parent and children’s rights and the rich heritage of Catholic education in Scotland.”
Mr O’Kane, who attended St Luke’s High School in Barrhead, said that Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies teachers were frustrated at their subject being uniquely targeted with a pupil opt-out clause. He said: “These are subject professionals, educating our children and young people with vital knowledge about the religions and belief systems they will encounter in their communities and the wider world, and equipping them with the skills of how to form and interrogate morals and belief systems.
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“In the majority of instances we are talking about our Catholic schools, a setting with which I’m particularly familiar, and I think it would help the committee in its consideration of amendments to properly characterise what that looks like in practice. It’s a long-standing statute in this country to respect and maintain the place of denominational schools.”
Critics of state-funded Catholic schools in Scotland have always suggested that their existence sows division and that, in any case, they are no longer required. They argue that the anti-Catholic and anti-Irish discrimination present at the beginning of the last century has been eradicated and that Catholics now play a full and active part at all levels of Scottish society. The Church believes that there has never been any evidence of their schools causing division and that a large percentage of non-Catholic parents choose them owing to their academic success and pastoral care models. In October, the Catholic Cathedral Primary School in Motherwell was rated one of Scotland’s best schools in an Education Scotland inspection, earning ‘excellent’ ratings in leadership, teaching, pupil behaviour and wellbeing.
Catholic leaders also cite Nicola Sturgeon’s remarks as First Minister in 2018 when she delivered the annual Cardinal Winning lecture on the centenary of Catholic education in Scotland. Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to celebrate “a national success story”. She added: “The partnership between church and state which began in 1918 hasn’t just endured, it has prospered. And it has done so in a way which has benefited all of our country.”
Paul O’Kane reiterated his party’s commitment to Catholic schools. The MSP said: “This SNP Bill is a mess. It remains unclear exactly what the Education Secretary is trying to achieve. The SNP is working with the Greens on rushed changes to the status of Religious Education and Religious Observance that could have an impact on how they operate in our faith schools.
“It’s disappointing to hear the Scottish Greens re-assert their opposition to Scotland's faith schools with no word of objection from the SNP. Scottish Labour support the rich diversity of our faith schools in Scotland and the important contribution they make to our communities.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is an unequivocal supporter of the role of Catholic schools and recognises the vital role played by religious observance and religious education within Catholic education.
"The committee considered a range of amendments at Stage 2, including the amendment which sought to recognise and strengthen the role of Religious and Moral Education (RME) in non-denominational schools and religious education in Catholic Schools as a core curriculum area.
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“The separation of religious observance and RME was a common consensus amongst the majority of stakeholders at the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee evidence sessions.
“We will continue to engage with the Scottish Catholic Education Service in relation to the Bill."
A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: "Our position in principle is for a secular education system where all young people are respected and where they have the space to voluntarily observe their personal faith, whatever that may be.
"However, we also recognise the centuries of discrimination faced by the Catholic community and the need to tackle the systemic anti-Catholic discrimination still prevalent in Scottish society. We do not have plans to change the status of individual schools or 'abolish' any existing schools."
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