Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Argentina: Bishops oppose removal of religious education from schools

“Religious education fosters legitimate pluralism and contributes to the development of society” this was the message written in a communiqué distributed by bishops of the Diocese of Salta, in North Western Argentina and broadcast on Vatican Radio. 

The document which was signed amongst others by the Archbishop of Argentina, Mgr. Mario Cargnello, comes after the local government’s decision to scrap religious studies lessons in state schools. 

Religious education, bishops wrote, “constitutes a right parents and children have and a duty for educational Institutions, as part of the integral development of their students,” given that “religious belief is a positive factor in an individual’s personal and social life.”

Prelates went on to stress: “We do not expect all children to be taught about the Catholic religion, but we want all children to be taught religion, unless they are exempted from doing so by their parents.”

Also because, the communiqué continued, the right one has to profess their faith, “on a personal or on a community level, is expressed in various contexts without hindering the functioning of institutions or implying an imposition or rejection of the rights of third parties.”

In this sense, the document went on to say, “It is the duty of the public school to respect and transmit a people’s culture and identity.” 

The final appeal was address to parents, urging them “to exercise their legitimate right to the integral education of their children.” 

“We are certain – the bishops of the Diocese of La Salta concluded – that a religious education that promotes a person’s identity, fosters pluralism and contributes to the development of our society.”