Children Schools and Families Bill: Three Bishops Say No!

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

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Children Schools and Families Bill: Three Bishops Say No!

Blogged by James Preece on 29th March 2010

Many thanks to Fr John Boyle for drawing attention to this letter which appeared in the Telegraph on Sunday...

SIR – Parents and guardians have the primary responsibility for bringing up their children in accordance with their own values and culture. They may entrust the task of formal education to a school of their choice, but the overall responsibility for the upbringing of their children remains theirs.

The Children, Schools and Families Bill undermines this principle and seeks to impose a particular ideology by means of statutory sex and relationships education from the age of 5 (which primary schools do not currently have to teach). We would therefore urge Parliament decisively to oppose it.

A state which seeks to centralise responsibilities which are properly fulfilled by families is acting in an unjust manner and undermines the basis of a free society.

[link]

There's nothing particularly remarkable about the contents of the letter, it's all pretty obvious stuff really, the sort of stuff Catholic bloggers, associations of Catholic families and organisations like SPUC have been saying for months.

What is significant about this letter is that it breaks the silence, finally, from the Catholic Bishops. This letter has been signed by three Catholic Bishops: Bishop Brian Noble (of Shrewsbury), Bishop Mark Davies (coadjutor of Shrewsbury) and Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue (retired Bishop of Lancaster). The letter has also been signed by figures such as Fr Aiden Nichols.

The letter has been signed by 100 Catholic headteachers and governors and more than 200 priests and deacons including Priests of Middlesbrough Diocese such as Fr Gerard Burns SM from Hull and Monsignor G M Dasey who looked after our Diocese when we were Sede Vacante.

I will be writing to our Bishop to ask if he is willing to put his name to this letter. I recommend you do the same (obviously, write to your own Bishop) and if you live in Shrewsbury Diocese, send them an Easter Egg or something.

They deserve it.

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Reader Comments

epsilon said...

Looks like the Family Education Trust is worth joining too - especially as it is not affiliated to any particular religion or political party - as any sane person can see we must do something effective and quickly. Their membership link is http://www.famyouth.org.uk/pdfs/membershipform.pdf

Shell said...

So Shrewbury bishops are on our side and good ol'POD.
Thank God someone is.

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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