While many Filipino children are still being deprived of sex education thanks to conservative Catholic doctrine, a district in England, which already provides the much needed sex education, plans to teach children that Catholic dogma — or any kind of doctrine — is optional:
Education bosses in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, have radically restructured the RE syllabus to accommodate non-religious beliefs.
Youngsters will continue to learn about the six major faiths – Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism – but they will also be taught humanism, the belief that there is no God or Gods, and that moral values are founded on human nature and experience.
The move recognises that more than 10,000 people in the borough do not have any religious beliefs. Both primary and secondary school pupils will be included in the shake-up.
Fiona Moss, from RE Today, which helped create the new syllabus, said: ‘We really must recognise that some people do not believe in God and do not have a religious background.
Sex education and Humanism education — I wonder which of the two the CBCP would oppose more?
In Blackburn with Darwen, though, it seems that religious leaders think both are OK. Here’s a religious leader’s take on HumEd (Hey, I like the sound of that.):
Reverend Kevin Logan, a local journalist, author and religious community leader, said: ‘It is quite a change but it is completely right to recognise atheism and humanism.
And here’s one Blackburn with Darwen bishop’s take on a 2009 plan to make sex education mandatory for children as young as five:
The Bishop of Burnley John Goddard said: “I would like to see parents informing their children but it is essential for this to happen in school if people feel unable to do this.”
It seems that in Blackburn with Darwen even bishops are in touch with reality. Although we have rational religious leaders of our own, it’s too bad it’s the idiots our government chooses to listen to.
I think the church would be open to teaching about other religions. And more hostile on opposing atheism in the classroom.
fair is fair, if people complain that they're "taking god out of the classroom", then let's do one better – let's introduce all the gods and non-gods to the kiddies… Jesus Christ say hello to Allah, Brahma, and… the Flying Spaghetti Monster 🙂
… though I do wish they included Tao and Shinto in the list too, it would be a good cross-cultural experience for the Brit kids to also be exposed to the eastern religions too. Then explain how the various religions reflect the individual culture and values each civilization espouses.
hmm… it seems that Goddard is not a Catholic Bishop (if his Wikipedia entry is accurate)…