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Church asks British schools to oppose gay
marriages
Friday April 27, 2012 10:32:28 AM,
IANS
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London: The Roman
Catholic Church has contacted its schools in England and Wales and
asked them to encourage pupils to oppose gay marriages and promote
traditional heterosexual relationships.
The Catholic Education Service contacted a total of 385 secondary
schools, and asked them to circulate a letter defending the
traditional definition of marriage, the Telegraph reported.
Schools were also invited to promote a petition by the Coalition
For Marriage opposing the government's plans to allow homosexual
couples to marry.
Around 470,000 people have signed the petition, backed by the
former archbishop of Canterbury.
in March, a letter penned by the archbishops of Westminster and
Southwark, defended marriage as a "natural institution" and said
that redefining it would be a "profoundly radical" step.
Schools were invited to use the letter in assemblies or distribute
copies to parents.
A pupil at a London secondary school wrote on the website PinkNews
that they were "appalled" by the way the issue was being
presented.
Secularist campaigners warned that schools which read the letter
could be breaking equality laws as well as rules against promoting
political causes in schools.
"It was an explanation of marriage and a positive affirmation of
marriage, celebrating the huge value that it brings to society -
we are proud of the fact that these kinds of values are taught in
our schools," said Maeve McCormack, policy manager for the
Catholic Education Service.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said
it was "a clear breach of the authority and privilege that the
Catholic Education Service has been given in schools".
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