Two main themes continue: (1) The fallout after the attempt by the Vatican to silence Irish priests, and (2) the customary three post-Easter teacher union conferences where (a) the Republic’s Minister spells out the state of the national purse to far from receptive audiences, and (b) issues arise from the proposed lessening of church control – mainly Roman Catholic – on the system. In Northern Ireland, an MLA’s concern about the impact of online gambling raises a growing problem which the churches amongst others should not ignore.
SILENCING OF PRIESTS
Silenced priest told to reflect on situation
Irish Times – Redemptorist priest Fr Tony Flannery, who was silenced by the Vatican because of his views on contraception, celibacy and women’s ordination, has been advised by Rome to go to a monastery for a period where he would “pray and reflect” on his situation.
Then, it was hoped, he would return “to think with the church” (sentire com ecclesia), according to the Rome-based website Vatican Insider. Senior Vaticanologist Gerry O’Connell reported that Fr Flannery was summoned to Rome in mid-March for a meeting with Fr Michael Brehl, the Canadian Superior General of the Redemptorists. Fr Brehl himself had been summoned to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) by the prefect, US Cardinal William Levada, who expressed his concern about the “orthodoxy” of views expressed by Fr Flannery in articles in the Redemptorist magazine Reality.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0411/1224314606217.html
Why the Pope is right to gag Fr Trendy
Mailonline blog – Two years ago, I appeared on a television programme entitled Faith in Crisis. I was joined on the panel by Fr Tony Flannery, a founding member of the self-styled Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland (ACP). Last week, the Vatican banned Fr Flannery from contributing to the Redemptorist Order’s Reality magazine.
Before appearing on Faith in Crisis, I had not met Fr Flannery. In fact, it wasn’t until he accused me of suggesting that he didn’t celebrate the Eucharist correctly, that I realised he was a Catholic priest. This was because he neither spoke nor dressed as someone who wished to be identified as a member of the clergy.
http://dooleyblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/04/why-the-pope-is-right-to-gag-fr-trendy.html
Cleric objects to Vatican’s ‘diktat culture’
Irish Examiner By Dan Buckley – A senior Irish cleric has launched a broadside at Pope Benedict XVI and his senior advisers, accusing them of attempting to row back on Catholic Church reforms initiated in the 1960s by Vatican II. He said the Pope and his governing body …
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/cleric-objects-to-vaticans-diktat-culture-190256.html
EDUCATION
Quinn: Gravity of crisis not understood
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn made it clear to primary teachers he is not for turning on cutbacks because of the country’s dire financial situation. He drew the ire of some delegates at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation congress when he suggested they and others still did not understand the gravity of the economic crisis.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/quinn-gravity-of-crisis-not-understood-190183.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/minister-slammed-in-school-cuts-row-546952.html
Quinn will back move to stop discrimination against gay teachers
TheJournal.ie – The education minister is “determined” to amend laws allowing schools to discriminate on the basis of their religious ethos.
http://www.thejournal.ie/quinn-will-back-move-to-stop-discrimination-against-gay-teachers-413264-Apr2012/
School patronage – Irish Times editorial
Ninety per cent cent of State-funded primary schools are still controlled by the Catholic Church, despite the church’s loss of authority and influence in the wake of child abuse scandals. The spectacle of immigrant children being refused admission on religious grounds gave rise to public controversy and demands for change in 2007. It had little effect.On taking office last year, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn spoke about removing half of the 3,000 primary schools from Catholic Church control in order to provide for multidenominational and non-denominational education and the needs of a rapidly changing society. An advisory group he established on patronage and pluralism has, however, urged a more gradualist approach.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0411/1224314607471.html
Patronage plans broadly welcomed
Irish Times – There has been a broad welcome to suggested changes to school patronage though one group said some proposals would “seriously undermine the identity of denominational schools”. The report of the Advisory Group of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, which has been written to give guidance on how best to transfer Catholic schools to other patrons, is published today.
In its first phase it identifies 43 towns and four Dublin areas where there is likely to be a significant demand for educational diversity.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0410/breaking38.html
Patronage report offers road map for vital change
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0412/1224314639536.html
Bishops welcome report on changes to primary-school teaching of religion
Irish Examiner – The Catholic Bishops’ Council for Education has welcomed the publication of a new report on how religion should be taught in primary schools. The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism has recommended that 47 primary schools should be divested from the …
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/bishops-welcome-report-on-changes-to-primary-school-teaching-of-religion-546887.html
Bishops oppose axeing class religion rule
Independent.ie – Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is facing a clash with (Roman Catholic) bishops over a key aspect of plans to change how they run their primary schools. The bishops have given a broad welcome to a report setting out a roadmap for handing over some of their schools to another patron body. The initial phase of the project will look at the possible transfer of about 50 schools in 47 areas where there is a demand for more choice.
http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/latest-news/bishops-oppose-axeing-class-religion-rule-3076730.html
Minister assures schools there is ‘no timeline’ for overhaul of system
Irish Times – School patronage and school communities are under no pressure to transfer from the Catholic Church to other patrons, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn stressed yesterday. Mr Quinn – who said last year that 1500 schools could be divested …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0411/1224314607723.html
Call for cross-border education
BBC – Parents should have the right to send their children across the border to school, Education Minister John O’Dowd says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17669100
NORTHERN IRELAND
Call for update of gambling laws
BBC – The Stormont Executive should press Downing Street for better regulation on gambling, MLA Alex Maskey says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17669109
Bangor minister says congregation disheartened by theft
BBC – The minister of a Bangor church says his congregation have been left disheartened after thieves stole lead from the roof of the building. Damage at the Church of the Nazarene is expected to cost thousands of pounds to repair.
Reverend Ken White said the theft had happened during a busy week in the church’s calendarIt was discovered on Good Friday evening by the church’s caretaker.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17659268