Religion in schools row escalates

Priests have accused Education Minister Ruairi Quinn of trying to run religion out of schools with his suggestion that teachers cut religion classes to give more time to maths and reading.

They have warned that his comments could derail the patronage talks aimed at getting Catholic bishops to turn over some schools to non-religious or multi-denominational patrons.

The Association of Catholic Priests said Mr Quinn’s remarks — made just before the start of the bishops’ designated Catholic Schools Week — could be interpreted as a threat and were “unhelpful, unwarranted, and unacceptable”.