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Saturday 1 April 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# divestment

All time
# LOSING FAITH
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.
# 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Completed reports and surveys on school patronage lie unpublished while the Department continues to meet with the Irish Episcopal Conference every month.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# Euthanasia
'How can you cheer abortion?': Bishop 'horrified' by referendum celebrations
Alphonsus Cullinan said Catholic Yes voters “should go to confession”.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.’
# 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.
# 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?’
# lived experience
School children tell us what they think about how they learn about religion
Here is what they had to say…
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.”
# 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.
# 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.