In the interview, John points up the major problems with the Blair Government, the bias of the mainstream media, and the loss of moral compass that prevents morally rational thinking on moral and bioethical issues.
Of particular interest to bloggers will be this section:
Q: Christian leaders in Britain in recent years have lamented the state of religion, as witnessed in low church attendance. Has that affected culture-of-life issues?The "Miss McLernon" in that quote is otherwise known as Mulier Fortis.
Smeaton: Whatever the fundamental cause of low church attendance, the situation is worsened by the lack of clear teaching on culture of life issues.
Tragically, in Britain, induced abortion and birth control drugs and devices are provided to children at school, including Catholic schools, under the age of 16 without parental knowledge or consent.
Last year, a teacher at a mixed Catholic school in Kent, in England, spoke out publicly about the sex education given to her class of 13- to 14-year-old children. The teacher, a Miss McLernon, said: "I think people should be aware of what is going on in schools. I witnessed the nurse using a plastic model to show these children how to put on what she said was a chocolate flavored condom."
Miss McLernon said: "Every child in the class was given a card explaining where you could get free contraceptives and the abortion-inducing morning-after pill. The card also gave details of a website for young people explaining how a surgical abortion could be arranged. This is a Catholic school where you would expect children to be protected from this sort of thing."
Sadly, more and more Catholic parents are approaching the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children with terrible experiences in Catholic schools, both at the secondary and primary school level. Protests on the part of Catholic parents and teachers seeking to protect young people do not appear to be heard.
9 comments:
With this sort of thing happening in catholic schools, I will not be giving money to the CES from now on. It is a disgrace that this is happening.
Miss McLernon is a very brave lady putting her neck on the line by exposing the harm done to our children in some Catholic Schools. I'm sure many teachers could report similar events if they didn't fear the loss of their jobs or victimization. How frightening that we need to worry about what Morals are now being transmitted in a Catholic school - parents beware - there are few places where your children are safe. Keep an eye on what goes on in the school, ask your children what they have done today and make sure you read all the letters they bring home. Don't be afraid to phone the school and question whatever you are not happy with. Remember you only get once chance to bring up your children and you will be held accountable, blaming the school is not an option.
BECOME A GOVERNOR!
(No apologies for shouting.)
Anyody who is a Gveror has legal responsibilities for a scool ad can therefore stick their nose into any aspect of school life and cause trouble (if the school needs it).
If, like me, you are a Governor of a Catholic School where there are none of the sort of problems referred to in this posting, you can offer support and discernment to Catholic Heads and teachers who are weighed down with the pressure that the DFeS (and society at large) imposes on Catholic schools.
If you have lots of time, you could become a Governor of a state school (like a man I know) purely to try to bring in the possibility of an alternative voice.
But don't just complain - do something!
I would agree that Governors can be supportive and sympathetic to hard-pressed staff. Not much more than that, though - schools are closely run by the Government via OFSTED which dictates most of what happens day-to-day.
However, if you really need to change something and the Head and/or staff are against it, they are protected by employment law, the unions and the LA. In Catholic schools they will also have the support of their Diocesan Education board/commission or whatever.
You can stir up some trouble. You can also stir up trouble as a non-Governor without the (considerable) legal liability or the hours of meetings needed to rubber-stamp what the Government dictates via OFSTED.
Sorry if this sounds cynical.
Smeaton: Whatever the fundamental cause of low church attendance, the situation is worsened by the lack of clear teaching on culture of life issues.
That's the whole concept with unclear/contradictory teaching: to destroy faith and kill the spirit.
I've not given money to the CES (or, indeed, any agency sponsored by the Bishops' Conference) for years. Certainly not since my children were taught (in a so-called 'Catholic' school in Birmingham) the procedures for using condoms and other contraceptive devices.
Recourse to the (priest) head of the Diocesan agency responsible for schools brought forth nothing but incredulity that any parent should question what was going on in a 'Catholic' school rather than aquiesence in the view that children need to be taught what alternatives there are to the Catholic view of morality - so that they are not disadvantaged when talking to other children!
That 'priest' is now responsibile for the most recent national 'sex education' package for Catholic schools.
I write as a concerned Catholic parent who feels badly let down by the Church authorities.
Yikes,
The younger The Oratory..where there is no sex ed, but anything based on The Pontifical Council..
The nurse is kept under 'strict' control, & my husband is a Foundation Governor appointed by The Oratory Fathers.
My older children go to school, also in Birmingham. We did have a letter asking if it was OK for them to teach fertility awareness. I think as a Girl's School & one 3 generations of my family have been to & am very familiar with, that they are safe. What kind of sex education package is it you mention? & furthermore who is the Priest promoting it? I'd certainly like to know what's going on. As a mom of 10 i certainly have a vested interest in Catholic Education.
God bless,
Jackie
rosary@blueyonder.co.uk
There is only so much a Governor can do if all the other Governors believe (as anonymous mother states) that it would disadvantage our Catholic children if they were not taught alternative views to Catholic morality. Also in many Catholic schools there are more non catholic teachers then catholic ones. Realistically speaking most schools no longer teach objective moral standards they pride themselves in being 'non-judgemental' and value free. It's back to the parents - who after all are the primary educators of their children.
Miss McLernon sounds like someone who should be cloned!!
(You know what I mean!!)
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