Lapsed Catholics face school sanctions

CHILDREN whose parents are lapsed Catholics are to be penalised by a Co Meath priest.

In a newsletter to parishioners in Stamullen last weekend, Fr Michael Daly said: "From now on, the non-practising, non-believing and non-contributing families will need to get in touch with the Department of Education and ask that a school with an ethos and culture similar to theirs be provided for their children."

Fr Daly said Catholics should accept the entire teachings of the Church and attend Mass on Sundays.

He said: "I don't believe Roman Catholics should pick and chose from the Commandments. I don't agree with this a-la-carte approach to religion.

"There has been a lot of housing development in Stamullen, with up to 300 new homes springing up and I want people, including those in the new houses, to think about whether they want to be Catholics or not and if they want their children to be Catholic.

"If they do, I will work with them, if they don't, let them work away themselves. If there was a squeeze on space in the school in the future, I would give priority to practising Catholics."

Like the 170-pupil Stamullen school, most of the 4,000 Irish primary schools are Catholic and the parish priest is normally involved in management.

Fr Daly's proposals have been criticised by parents' representatives.

Delegate to the European Parents Association Michael O'Reagan said it was wrong to penalise children for their parents' behaviour.

"Children have no power over their parents and to deny them an education because of their parents' sins is to use them as pawns, " said Mr O'Reagan, who is also president of the National Parents Council (NPC),post primary.

The NPC is the umbrella body for five different associations, including the Minority Religions Association.

"We represent everyone, no exclusions and any exclusion would be anathema to what we represent," Mr O'Reagan said.

Bishop of Meath Michael Smith was unavailable for comment. A Church spokesperson said it was a matter for the diocese. The Department of Education was also unavailable for comment. Mr O'Reagan said Fr Daly's proposals would be raised at the next meeting of the NPC.