BHA: Catholic Education Service finally breaks its silence over SRE

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has responded to a statement by the Catholic Education Service (CES) that Catholic schools will uphold the teachings of the Church “in particular to all work about sex and relationships education” and “do not and would not promote abortion”. The CES claimed the credit for a Government amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill that permits state-funded “faith schools” to teach PSHE, which includes Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), “in a way that reflects the school’s religious character”.

Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, said, ‘It is shameful that the Government has continued to deny, in statements in Parliament and to the press, that its last-minute amendment to its education bill permits state-funded faith schools to teach SRE in ways that are not balanced and accurate, when it is clear that is exactly what the change to proposed legislation will do. The statement from the CES makes clear that pupils in Catholic schools are unlikely to receive objective teaching on crucial issues such as contraception and abortion’

‘Despite its protestations, the effect of this new Government policy will be that students in community schools will receive comprehensive SRE, which will include objective teaching on issues such as contraception, abortion and safer sexual relationships, but those in Catholic and other religious schools do not have that entitlement.’

Notes

For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips, naomi@humanism.org.uk, 07540 257101, 020 7079 3585.

The Catholic Education Service’s made a statement, following claims by Ed Balls that Catholic schools would have to teach how to access post-conception services http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/articles/a0000764.shtml

Read Ed Balls’ amendment, which passed in the Commons after MPs were given no time to debate the amendment, http://www.humanism.org.uk/_uploads/documents/Clause11ofCSFBillwithamendmentinred.pdf

The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and discrimination based on religion or belief. The BHA contributes to debate on a wide range of ethical issues from stem cell research to sex education. The BHA is a member of the National Children’s Bureau Sex Education Forum (SEF) and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England.