Faith-based schools and a Catholic agenda

NORA BENNIS’S criticism (Letters, November 30) of my views (November 26) on faith-based schools reveals her own pro-Catholic agenda.

At no stage in my letter did I say I was anti-Catholic: this is her own contrivance designed to put the cat among the pigeons. It seems, according to Ms Bennis, that if you’re not pro-Catholic your are automatically labelled anti-Catholic.

But enough of that. A major public consultation is under way to establish the public’s view on whether the State should back faith or religiously-based schools through a specific language. This is an important debate and could shape future attitudes in this country towards religious education and the medium through which it’s taught.

As for the critics of my views on Irish-only schools (Letters, November 30), no one in their right mind will say English is loved by gaelscoileanna regardless of the “optimum time to introduce it as a subject” and its “ever-increasing interest”.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Ringaskiddy

Co Cork