Scottish Catholic Observer

The spokesman for the Church in Scotland has called for the setting up of schools for atheists as part of an education system that embraces ‘difference and diversity.’

Writing in today’s Herald newspaper, Peter Kearney (above), director of the Catholic Media Office, said it might be time that ‘we expanded faith schools, so our education system truly reflects our plural society.’

“Why, for example, should tax-paying parents who follow a secular humanist belief system be denied the opportunity to have their children educated in accordance with their beliefs?” he writes. “I’ve yet to meet a parent who believes in ‘nothing.’ Everyone I’ve ever encountered has a set of beliefs of one kind or another, from humanists to Hindus, there is no mythical default setting, no neutral standard of belief that can or should be imposed on all. Accordingly, there can never be an equitable ‘one size fits all’ education system.

“Although only a very small number of Scots would endorse a secular humanist belief system that should not disbar them from seeking to have their children educated in accordance with their beliefs. If demand exists and secular humanist schools, were to be managed and regulated in accordance with national guidance and practice, as Catholic schools are, then good luck to them.”

Mr Kearney’s article comes after a campaign by parents in Glasgow to set up Scotland’s first Muslim school, a campaign backed by Michael McGrath (below), director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, who said the Church ‘would be supportive of other wider forms of denominational provision being available where there is public demand.’

Currently, most schools in Scotland are non-denominational but with compulsory religious education in classes.

In his article, Mr Kearney argued that we are ‘far more likely to engender tolerance and respect for diversity, by promoting variety rather than imposing conformity whether in education or across society,’ and criticised aggressive secularism in Scotland.

The Scottish secular society has responded to the article by saying they want ‘schools of diversity’ rather than a ‘diversity of schools.’

—[email protected]