The Catholic bishop of Lancaster's plans to have his Catholic schools use Catholic doctrine from the Catechism of the Catholic Church has infuriated hard-line secularists and anti-religious voices in Parliament. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue of the North West city has issued a 66-page document that outlines his determination to shift his schools back to a genuinely Catholic religious character, especially in catechesis, from which many parents and lay people say the Church in England has been steadily drifting for decades.
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Bishop O'Donohue wrote, "The secular view on sex outside of marriage, artificial contraception, sexually transmitted disease, including HIV and AIDS, and abortion, may not be presented as neutral information ... parents, schools and colleges must also reject the promotion of so-called 'safe sex' or 'safer sex', a dangerous and immoral policy based on the deluded theory that the condom can provide adequate protection against AIDS."
Despite the fury of anti-Catholic groups, Bishop O'Donoghue said he was "overwhelmed" by the positive response he has received from Catholics. "Before Christmas, my office was inundated with congratulations, enquiries, and requests for copies of Fit for Mission? Schools from within the diocese, from around the country and internationally."
Fr. Timothy Finigan, a pro-life activist and theology lecturer wrote on his weblog, "I have not read the whole document yet but even just skimming through, I am bowled over by it...frankly this is in a different league from anything I have seen in terms of school policy in over 23 years as a priest."
Fr. Finigan, however, warned that the biggest danger to Catholic schools is not from outside. "[I]t is likely that much of the most serious trouble will come from people within the Catholic education system itself: senior staff, governors and officials who will be outraged that the Church should suggest that they actually follow the teaching of the Catechism."
Andrew Cusack discusses how all over the world, Catholics are returning to tradition.
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3 comments:
Yay! That's good to hear. It seems that it will seen those who are following church teachings in the schools and those who aren't. Perhaps there'll be internal housekeeping.
I hope this is indeed part of a trend of genuine renewal.
You are welcome. It is refreshing. I hope when he is called before parlement he has the same moral courage. I will pray for him.
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