tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post5250493292122318617..comments2024-03-19T15:26:26.055+00:00Comments on auntie joanna writes: The National Secular Society...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-40898998844640737342010-03-10T09:25:33.406+00:002010-03-10T09:25:33.406+00:00One reality about Catholic education is that it is...One reality about Catholic education is that it is here, and will stay : but if the Government decides to be difficult, then the Church may have to withdraw from the State system, and make our schools 'Catholics only' - and, after all, if we fund them, is it unreasonable that they should be restricted to our children ?<br /><br />However; given the high quality of most Catholic schools, that will no doubt be unacceptable too, as it will then be alleged that we are gaining an unfair advantage !Dominic Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14514722976964423091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-37590168009359535192010-03-08T11:24:53.999+00:002010-03-08T11:24:53.999+00:00Anonymous - every organisation treats non-members ...Anonymous - every organisation treats non-members differently from members. That's almost the definition of the term.<br /><br />However, with the exception of a tiny number of people excommunicated for reasons of theological disagreement, anyone can become a Catholic by being baptised, attending Mass, and describing themselves as such. <br /><br />(There is a difficult issue when Catholic schools discriminate against new Catholics. The problem is that, where the Catholic school is a lot better than the surrounding secular competition you might get cynical conversions for the purpose of securing a school place. There's no easy answer to that one.)Malcolm McLeanhttp://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~bgy1mmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-59100589851682161792010-03-05T17:40:21.973+00:002010-03-05T17:40:21.973+00:00I'm a supporter of religious freedom. I think ...I'm a supporter of religious freedom. I think the Catholic Church should have the right to act according to its own teachings, except where those teachings contravene the rights of others.<br /><br />If Catholic Schools were wholly funded by the Catholic Church and its supporters, that would be one thing. But they're not. They get public funding. And in exchange for that, is it unreasonable to expect Church Schools to respect public anti-discrimination law?<br /><br />Is it reasonable for the Church to expect *every* employee to live according to Catholic standards (whatever they are)? Priests, sure. But cleaners? English teachers? Isn't it reasonable that employees in a publicly funded service have some right to a private life apart from their employer?<br /><br />If people choose a Catholic adoption agency to place a child, then presumably they wish the agency to use Catholic principles (whatever they are) in finding parents to adopt the child. But if that agency is in receipt of public funding, then is it unreasonable to expect that agency to abide by anti-discrimination legislation in exchange?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-28629946231211061922010-03-05T17:32:31.996+00:002010-03-05T17:32:31.996+00:00Accuracy?
You say the NSS was "urging the Pr...Accuracy?<br /><br />You say the NSS was "urging the Prime Minister to ban the visit of the Holy Father."<br /><br />This is untrue. The NSS was urging no such thing. See their original petition page: http://www.secularism.org.uk/petition-the-pm.html, and the other one they supported: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ProtestthePope/<br /><br />If you don't want to be accused of bigotry, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-40346472672084002082010-03-05T09:56:41.146+00:002010-03-05T09:56:41.146+00:00Anonymous;
do at least try to be accurate.
The Ca...Anonymous;<br />do at least <i>try</i> to be accurate.<br /><br />The Catholic Church doesn't want to exclude <i>anyone</i>; all it wants is the right to do its own things, for its own people (and anyone else who wants), in accordance with its own teachings.<br /><br />No-one <i>has</i> to go to a Catholic School; but it's hardly unreasonable for Catholics to want their schools to teach in accordance with Catholic doctrine.<br /><br />No-one <i>has</i> to work for a Catholic organisation; but it's hardly unreasonable for those organisations to expect their employees to live according to Catholic standards.<br /><br />No-one <i>has</i> to give her baby to a Catholic Adoption Agency; no prospective parents <i>have</i> to approach a Catholic adoption agency in search of a child to adopt : but those who do should, surely, not find it unreasonable that such an Agency operates in accordance with the teachings of the Church.<br /><br />If you don't want people to think you're bigoted, then do at least <i>try</i> to be fair.Dominic Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14514722976964423091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-91691033777062381952010-03-04T22:24:19.869+00:002010-03-04T22:24:19.869+00:00... but the Catholic Church has fought tooth and n...... but the Catholic Church has fought tooth and nail to retain discriminatory powers in many of the areas you mention! School admissions, employment, adoption etc. All areas where the Church wants to exclude others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-52503818088300646292010-03-04T14:57:53.022+00:002010-03-04T14:57:53.022+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Joanna Boglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657573606200891390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-87158474332774560772010-03-04T14:27:11.114+00:002010-03-04T14:27:11.114+00:00Very very good points.
May I request permission t...Very very good points.<br /><br />May I request permission to post your thoughts on our blog?Stuarthttp://blog.echurchwebsites.org.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33970956.post-29620386781099873662010-03-04T13:14:18.524+00:002010-03-04T13:14:18.524+00:00Although slow at first, the petition in support of...Although slow at first, the petition in support of Pope Benedict's visit has now over 12,000 signatories!Patriciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906131174326742939noreply@blogger.com