Tag Archives: Catholic Ethos

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar arriving at Dublin Castle for a cabinet meeting this morning; Róisín Shortall on the plinth at Leinster House this afternoon

This afternoon.

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall has asked the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to “immediately clarify remarks” he made in which he said he worked at the national maternity hospital and that “some people” were failing to acknowledge that Holles Street is a “Catholic-ethos hospital”.

Deputy Shorthall said:

“There is a very simple reason that people are not acknowledging this. Mr Varadkar is wrong. Holles Street was never a Catholic-run, or owned, hospital.

“The national maternity hospital in Holles Street was set up by Royal Charter in 1903. That Charter makes no reference to Catholic ethos. This is why services contrary to Catholic ethos – like sterilisation and IVF – are performed.

“Contrary to this, St Vincent’s is most definitely a Catholic-ethos hospital and declines to provide women a full range of medical services – like sterilisation or even contraception – for that reason.”

Earlier….

RollingNews

St Sylvester’s Infant School, Malahide, County Dublin

A third school in north county Dublin has sent a letter to parents warning of dire consequences if parents vote to change the ethos of the school in an upcoming ballot.

St Sylvester’s in Malahide has told parents that a move away from Catholic patronage would mean that the school would no longer be able to celebrate the role of grandparents in children’s lives…

The leaflet also warns that there will be “no more uniforms” and that this will compromise child safety on school tours as well as leading to “arguments in the morning”.

Good times.

Third Dublin school sends letter warning of consequences over changing patronage (RTÉ)

UPDATE:

Via Educate Together

‘Educate Together is aware of much media comment over a series of letters issued in the Malahide / Portmanock / Kinsealy area in relation to possible reassignment of patronage of some Catholic schools.

Educate Together issued a classification statement on this matter yesterday, which can be accessed here.

However, Educate Together is disappointed that the content of further material published today (above) is grossly misleading and categorically untrue.

Due to a number of issues raised, we can only assume that these statements are directed against Educate Together’s equality-based school model.

It has been alleged that multi-denominational / equality-based schools engage in a number of unsafe and negative practices, such as:

compromising on child safety
having ‘low standards’ of education
not celebrating Christmas and other cultural events
not celebrating the role of grandparents in children’s lives
leading to “uncertainty” in local access to secondary education

None of this is true.

Educate Together is calling on school leaders to be aware of their responsibility to provide parents and the general public with accurate information about other school models, especially when they are implicitly referencing Educate Together.

Educate Together has not been consulted regarding any divestments in Malahide/Portmarnock. The organisation is calling for a forum where all stakeholders can exchange opinions and information.

Or anyone interested in learning about Educate Together’s unique, inclusive and equality-based school ethos, our brand new website www.educatetogether.ie will assist…’

Another Day, Another Clarification (Educate Together)

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Locations of multi-faith primary schools (top) and those of Catholic ethos (above).

Jay.

Kers.

Gráinne writes:

I think your readers might be interested in theese screen grabs of Dept of Education’s website, showing the results of searches for multi-denominational primary schools and Catholic ethos primary schools.

The visual is quite striking, and nicely illustrates the point that most families in Ireland have no choice but to attend schools controlled by the Catholic Church. In a secular state religious run schools should be the exception, not the norm….

Find A School – Department of Education

Previously: Ask A Broadsheet Reader