Aoife Cassidy: Why haven't more parents withdrawn children from First Holy Communion? 

'I would love to see religious instruction and preparation for the sacraments moved to an extracurricular activity.'

'Every day at the school gates, I am greeted with tales of 8am hair appointments, houses being painted, gardens being landscaped and planted, caterers being booked, dresses being altered.'

Our family is unremarkable in all ways but one. Our children attend the local Catholic school but do not participate in religion, including the sacraments.

There are probably families all over the country who, like us, have opted out of religious education but in our community, we are very much the exception to the rule.