Bishop O'Donoghue stands up to the school bullies
See John Smeaton's post today (Bishop stands up under fire) for a summary of Bishop O'Donoghue's treatment at the hands of the House of Commons Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families.
The Committee Chairman, Barry "faith education works all right as long as people are not that serious about their faith" Sheerman took the opportunity in the course of questioning to refer contemptuously to Pope Benedict as the "present occupant of the Vatican"
This morning was an "oral Evidence Session" concerning Diversity of School Provision: Faith Schools. The stated purpose of the meeting of this committee which was established less than five months ago was to examine faith schools and their place within the school system. Suddenly there is talk all over the place about "faith schools" (ours are Church schools, actually) choosing pupils on the basis of social status or academic ability. This is nonsense: those of our schools that are over-subscribed have quite a hard time applying their admissions criteria fairly and are under constant scrutiny from appeal hearings and complaints to the ombudsman. Of course they make mistakes from time to time but not through any attempt to select by ability.
In fact, most dioceses long ago went in hook line and sinker for the comprehensive system, changing many excellent Catholic grammar schools in the process. Some of us might debate the wisdom of that policy but it certainly belies any accusation of social or academic selection.
This latest flurry of concern about selection is simply a convenient excuse for an attack on the Church's role in education. Congratulations to Bishop O'Donoghue for standing up against it and for asserting the right of Catholic schools not to support anti-life charities.
The Lancaster diocese policy document Fit for Mission - schools is now available from the CTS (80pp, A4, £6.95)
20 comments:
Hurrah for our Bishop! We need to rally our support and ensure that our schools deepen their Catholicity. St Jose Maria Escriva writes in 'The Forge' (259)...'The measures taken by some governments to ensure that the faith in their countries dies out reminds me of the seals set upon the tomb of Jesus by the Sanhedrin. He was not subject to anybody or anything, and despite those seals, He rose again'.
The Bishop was called to answer charges of fundamentalism by Barry Sheerman MP. Isn’t this just more soft totalitarianism from lightweight MP's jumping on the so-called "tolerance" bandwagon? This is an ambiguous tolerance that will not tolerate the truth or universality of Christianity. It's selectively tolerant; “Equality & Diversity”: yes, equal and diverse - as long as it's not Christian! That’s not universal. Undertones of Berlin 1937 all over again? All very predictable.
I'm surprised by Bishop O'Donoghue's stand on catechesis. From what I have heard through clergy in the Lancaster diocese, this is all a little out of character for him. He is known to question points of the faith in private, he has never been a friend of the TLM, he is quick to close great historical churches, and he prefers to have his most orthodox priests out in the Outer Hebrides.
I wonder if his brother bishops have given him their support.
Dominie
I'm surprised by Bishop O'Donoghue's stand on catechesis. From what I have heard through clergy in the Lancaster diocese, this is all a little out of character for him. He is known to question points of the faith in private, he has never been a friend of the TLM, he is quick to close great historical churches, and he prefers to have his most orthodox priests out in the Outer Hebrides.
Bishop POD confirmed me in 2001. His sermon was rather boring and he seemed quite pleased with the liturgical dancing that went on through the offertory.
I know the Bishop is somewhat apathetic to traditionalist Catholics, but his actions as of yesterday can only be applauded. Too long have we suffered from Bishops of the Warlock era, who as the notable Fr. Z of WDTPRS says, would rather have an old portrait of Paul VI on their chancery corridors than Pope Benedict XVI.
I hope Bishops Crispain Hollis and Declan 'Crispain made me' Lang take note of the bishops' actions.
Thanks Fr Tim, your link revealed this attempt at governmental intellectual educational 'high-brow' jibber-jabber:
DIVERSITY OF SCHOOL PROVISION: FAITH SCHOOLS
Oral Evidence Session
The Children, Schools and Families Committee will be taking formal oral evidence as follows:
Wednesday 12 March 2008 at 9.30am
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Then went on to name the following motley crew -
Evidence from: Rebecca Allen, Researcher, Institute of Education, University of London; Professor Mark Halsted, Head, Department of Community and International Education, University of Huddersfield; Professor Audrey Osler, Research Professor, University of Leeds and Director, Centre for Citizenship and Human Rights Education (CCHRE); and Professor Anne West, Professor of Education Policy, and Director, Education Research Group, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
What a bunch of eminent professorships ... er, in what exactly??? And what 'evidence' were they providing to support 'what' exactly?? Hah! The only names missing are Professor Thomas Cranmer Chair of Heretical Religious Studies & and Professor Thomas Cromwell Masterful Wheeler Dealer of Royal Shennanigans!
In the interest of transparency and my 'uman rights I demand to have a full transcript of those proceedings published on the internet! Any 'insiders' care to leak a copy?
What will be Bishop O'Donoghue's masterful next move???
Well done to Bishop O'Donoghue - though part of me thinks thanks should be unnecessary. Isn't he, after all, only doing what a bishop is supposed to do? We should not have to apologise for our faith. We should not be cowered into silence. We should not compromise for the sake of respectability. If the Church isn't unpopular it isn't doing its job right. If all bishops were to stand up fearlessly for the truth they will all become unpopular. So be it. They are supposed to be the guardians of the faith, not winners of popularity competitions.
Even so, well done Bishop O'Donoghue!
From Bishop Horsley at the end of the 18th Century:
The Church of God on earth will be greatly reduced, as we may well imagine, in its apparent numbers, in the times of Antichrist, by the open desertion of the powers of the world. This desertion will begin in a professed indifference to any particular form of Christianity, under the pretence of universal toleration; which toleration will proceed from no true spirit of charity and forbearance, but from a design to undermine Christianity, by multiplying and encouraging sectaries. The pretended toleration will go far beyond a just toleration, even as it regards the different sects of Christians. For governments will pretend an indifference to all, and will give a protection in preference to none. All establishments will be laid aside. From the toleration of the most pestilent heresies, they will proceed to the toleration of Mahometanism, Atheism, and at last to a positive persecution of the truth of Christianity.
When Catholic bishops appear before governmental bodies, they should always make clear that they do so voluntarily, and that the Church is not subject to the subpoena power of the state.
On another note, the English hierarchy should step up and say that the Church has lived through the creeping authority of the state before, and that it is the state (and not the Church) who has to apologize over that one. Of course, that may be an observation easier made by an American than Her Majesty's loyal subjects.
Isn't it time for an open debate about the restoration in a limited form of single sex and/or selective education in Catholic schools?
Very poor show from Mr Sheerman. Chesterton would have had a field-day with him.
Way to go O'Donohue!
This week Ed Balls was on television jumping on the bandwagon that accused 'faith schools' of ignoring the law and charging for admissions. The Telegraph which also gave prominence to the accusations had to retract them the following day (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/13/nschools113.xml):
"It emerged that just four schools may have been charging, fuelling claims that the disclosure was a distraction from figures showing that one in five parents failed to get children into their first choice secondary school....
The schools which are said to have been charging are all believed to be Jewish primaries in Barnet. The Telegraph understands that one levied a £50 admission fee while three others sought voluntary contributions towards security and Jewish studies, a subject not funded by the taxpayer."
I attended this meeting in the house of commons. The committee interviewing the Bishop was not specifically anti-clerical and did not have as great a secular agenda as you make out. The thesis being proposed was that faith schools were discrimatory on the basis of income and that is clearly rubbish. The best way to work with in dialogue with secularist is maybe to be less polemical and by emphasising reason, common sense and this is what O'Donogue did well.
I am surprised by Thomas Herne's statement that Bishop O'Donaghue's preference is to send his TLM clergy out to the Outer Hebrides.
Notwithstanding this comment, His Lordship has, at least, stood up to the bullying tactics of Barry Sherman.
I really do hope that the Catholics of Huddersfield mount a serious campaign against this evil man. They could, at least, send a message to other politicians, that the Catholic vote is not necessarily a certainty for the Labour Party.
If, only!
If only!
JARay
I've not read the whole report yet, but from what Fr. Tim writes in his post, this sounds like an attack not only on Catholic schools, but also on the teachings of the Catholic Church.
I hope I am wrong.
Robert - having viewed the video and seen the comments of Barry Sheerman in other contexts, I would be in no doubt that their agenda is anti-clerical; or anti-Catholic to be more precise. It is presented coolly and with sophistication and needs to be met in like manner. But we should be in no doubt that there is an intellectual war going on here.
Thomas - Fr Luiz Ruscillo's working at the Education Centre rather belies your assertion that Bishop O'Donoghue puts orthodox priests out to the Outer Hebrides.
To be honest, I think that when a Bishop stands up for the faith as strongly as Bishop O'Donoghue has, it is not that helpful to nitpick.
Oh, and the Cathedral Dean celebrates the TLM every month in the Cathedral.
comment by email from Fr Peter
Thomas Herne should remember that there is a commandment about bearing false witness. I think I know my Bishop well, both in public and in private and I have never heard him question any point of the Faith. He is generous in regard to the TLM and his instruction to the Clergy in his September 2007 'ad clerum' about Summorum Pontificum should have been a model for all Bishops. I have photographic evidence that he celebrated a TLM while he was in Westminster. Lancaster Cathedral also has a monthly Extraordinary Rite Mass. He is not quick to close any churches as Mr Herne would know if he was following the 'Fit for Mission' review. I would hope that all his Priests are orthodox and can assure you that none of them are in the Outer Hebrides. Bishop Patrick is a Blessing for this Diocese and his hard work on our behalf will be appreciated for many years to come. Until now I have resisted commenting on any blog entries but I will not stand by and see a good man unjustly accused.
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