# divestment

All time

Religion in schools: 'My son was upset - a friend told him he wasn't going to heaven'

Noteworthy gathers the experiences of parents and educators in Ireland’s majority Catholic primary education system.

In part two of a deep dive into the stalemate in providing choice in primary education, Peter McGuire hears from parents and teachers.

Families speak of being forced into Catholic schools because of hours-long daily commutes to 'nearest' multi-denominational.

While 'opting out' of religious instruction is facilitated by many schools, many parents say their children feel isolated and upset.

35.4k

114

Jun 14th 2021, 9:30 PM

# LOSING FAITH

State on a go-slow in moving primary education from majority Catholic grip

Noteworthy spotlights a lack of coherence, communication and progress in the State promise to provide 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030.

In this first of a two-part deep dive into the promised creation of better educational choice, Peter McGuire finds a process in paralysis.

Just 13 multi-denominational schools have been established under divestment Catholic schools in the past 8 years.

Completed reports and surveys on school patronage lie unpublished while the Department continues to meet with the Irish Episcopal Conference every month.

41.5k

Jun 14th 2021, 12:23 PM

# divestment

Archdiocese postpones vote on patronage of Dublin schools, citing 'confusion' about Church celebrations

It was claimed earlier this week that pupils would not celebrate Christmas at Educate Together schools.

13.9k

Apr 5th 2019, 6:35 PM

# Catholic Church

Claims that children can't celebrate Christmas at Educate Together schools 'incorrect and misleading'

It has been claimed by one gaelscoil that Irish greetings like dia duit would no longer be allowed.

29.9k

167

Apr 2nd 2019, 3:24 PM

# divestment

Courts Service of Ireland reduces shares in Big Tobacco, but still holds €4.5m worth in stocks

Critics state the Courts Services continued investment in the tobacco industry flies in the face of the government’s Tobacco Free Ireland vision.

12.3k

Jul 29th 2018, 7:00 AM

# Euthanasia

'How can you cheer abortion?': Bishop 'horrified' by referendum celebrations

Alphonsus Cullinan said Catholic Yes voters “should go to confession”.

84.5k

121

Jun 1st 2018, 9:04 PM

# examples

Religion in the classroom: How other countries in the EU deal with it

Ireland is not the first country to experience these types of issues around religion and education.

27.6k

131

Aug 3rd 2016, 9:05 PM

# million dollar question

"It's not something that should be up for vote" - can the problem with religion in Irish schools be solved?

96% of Ireland’s national schools are still run by religious orders with the divestment of education proceeding at a snail’s pace.

12.3k

Aug 3rd 2016, 9:05 PM

# divestment

Is a religious education better for students? We took a look

‘Catholic schools are more strict, the academic side of things follows in that pattern then.’

11.3k

Aug 3rd 2016, 9:05 PM

# no faith

'Sham baptisms': Priests struggle with reasons behind the ceremony while parents feel hypocrital

Under the current system, children trying to get a place in a primary school can be divided into categories depending on their faith.

35.6k

194

Aug 2nd 2016, 9:05 PM

# enrolment policies

Unbaptised and bottom of the list - frustrated and worried parents speak out

‘Baptise your child just to get into a school or don’t baptise but then fear your child may be ostracised from their class group?’

16.9k

Aug 2nd 2016, 9:05 PM

# lived experience

School children tell us what they think about how they learn about religion

Here is what they had to say…

16.8k

Aug 2nd 2016, 9:04 PM

# a fine balance

'She's coming home singing Ave Maria': Religion from the back of the classroom

Ireland’s non-religious parents face some tough choices about how their children participate.

23.7k

Aug 2nd 2016, 9:00 PM

# MAKING CHANGES

Here is how Ireland's bishops responded to being asked to hand over their schools

Then education minister Ruairí Quinn had high hopes when he wrote to bishops around the country back in 2013.

76.5k

188

Aug 1st 2016, 9:06 PM

# constitutional law

Religious education in schools: Two sets of rights in conflict

‘You can discriminate, including favouring one group in particular circumstances, if it is to enable the practice of that religion.”

21.0k

122

Aug 1st 2016, 9:05 PM

# What Next?

'It tends not to be prime property that's handed over': 8 schools opened in 3 years under divestment

TheJournal.ie has spoken to the schools supposed to be offering choice to the parents of Ireland’s primary school pupils.

15.5k

Aug 1st 2016, 9:05 PM

# Opting out

'Like most of my friends, I baptised my children so they could go to school': The anger of Ireland's non-religious parents

Documents released to TheJournal.ie under freedom of information show the anger of Ireland’s non-religious parents.

59.4k

475

May 16th 2016, 6:15 AM