School patronage - A welcome development

THE decision that will allow the Educate Together group to open its first two secondary schools in the next two years is very welcome.

It recognises that Ireland has irreversibly changed and that a system where the great majority of schools are under the control of the Catholic Church is no longer acceptable.

This has been recognised by the Catholic hierarchy, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has expressed a willingness to step back from the management of a good number of schools, although some voices from within Irish Catholicism have challenged his generosity.