Church hits back in row over Scots faith schools
A DIRECTOR of the country’s top lobbying group for charities has been criticised after he launched an attack against faith schools, saying that they are one of the “key causes” of sectarianism.
John Downie, a director of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said that “getting rid of faith schools” would help to eradicate the blight of religious hatred north of the Border.
The Scottish Government has made tackling sectarianism a top priority in the SNP’s second term.
Legislation passed last year created new offences relating to singing at football matches and internet behaviour.
In a blog on the SCVO’s website last year, Mr Downie argued that “the solution” was to focus on the real cause of sectarianism, namely the school system”.
Mr Downie said: “In my opinion one key causes [sic] of sectarianism is Scotland continuing to have separate denominational and non-denominational schools… the reality is that separate schools foster estrangement between Catholic and Protestant communities and influence the behaviour of children.”
Bishop Joseph Devine, the president of the Scottish Catholic Education Commission, described his opinions as “reckless” and “offensive”.
“Mr Downie has misused the SCVO website to make offensive and untenable claims that Catholic schools are a cause of sectarianism in Scotland.”
The bishop added: “Such an intervention is not what one would expect to read on the official website of a respected social agency that is expected to champion co-operation, harmony and tolerance.”
Labour MSP Michael McMahon said: “There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that separate schools create sectarianism – in fact, the opposite is true.”
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Comments
There are 108 comments to this article
Page 1 of 8
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:38 PMoh - and if you persist in posting defamatory, harrassment, personal attacks or foul and abusive language then I will ask the moderator for them to be deleted.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:03 PMsimper simper simper - "4000 cases is what I meant to say" - simper simper - well listen Mr Otton - next time tell the truth instead of telling a lie! It's not difficult!
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:01 PMGarryOtton, listen, if you're going to quote sources get it right next time and don't make up even more lies. I did not call the Sun a liar but some of their journos clearly are, yet another fabrication on your part. None of my posts have been either wicked or scurrilous, please cite any examples, if you can. What is your definition of an apologist? Mine is someone who writes in defence of something - is that crime in Ottonville? My views on criminality are crystal clear, aren't they? And btw, you still fail to answer the questions that the thread raises...................
GarryOtton
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 08:40 PMMore than 4,000 cases of sex abuse by priests is what i mean to say. Yet you call the newspaper that printed it a liar. It might be. But this story is true. What will it take before people like you wake up and smell the coffee! What is wrong with you that you continually apologise for such a vile and pitiful institution? By admittting that it is me deleting the posts you are also implicating yourself.You started it. I never had any desire to delete any of your posts, however wicked and scurrilous. But you will certainly find your posts being deleted should you engage in that childish nonsense again. And not just by me, either.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:21 PMGarryOtton, at your post #97, you falsely claimed that "4,000 priests in sex abuse charges". Please read the Sun article more carefully before posting yet more lies. I'm told that one requires a reading age of nine to fully understand Sun articles.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:15 PMGarryOtton, there you are, I've answered your questions - now please answer mine - where is there any evidence that faith schools cause sectarianism? Sectarianism comes from a belief that certain differences are dangerous. If we allow our children to believe this then we should not be surprised when they grow up to be bigots. Faith schools do not teach this - it is taught in the homes of bigotted people to their children. It is this out of school teaching which causes sectarianism, not faith schools.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:09 PMGarryOtton , Are you quoting the same Sun newspaper which has just had five senior journalists arrested for cheating and lying? Are they kindred spirirts to you? Conflation and non objectivity seem to be common threads here. You are a joke - really - a total joke.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:04 PMPreviously posted by me and deleted by GarryOtton .......................................................................btw GarryOtton, have you any evidence to support the 'claim' that faith schools cause sectarianism, because I've yet to see an iota of supporting data.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:04 PMPreviously posted by me and deleted by GarryOtton .......................................................................GarryOtton, you are a bully boy and following your failure to address the issues of the article in any way, your insults and claims have become ever more extreme. You stepped over the line with your last posts which is why I have reported you for the reasons given. Furthermore, you do have free speech and can exercise it in many forums. However, you are obliged to remain within the law. Debate and discuss by all means but do not post unfounded defamatory personal untruths about others. Good night
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:03 PMPreviously posted by me and deleted by GarryOtton .......................................................................GarryOtton, Just bringing your attention to some house rules. I would like to point out that you comments contravene these rules and leave you wide open. Please stop posting defamatory lies which have no foundation in truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .House rules - Do not post any defamatory material of any nature anywhere on the Forums (for example a comment that is capable of damaging the reputation of a person or organisation. You could be liable for damages and costs if successfully sued). Do not post messages that are harassing, defamatory, abusive, harmful,
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:02 PMGarryOtton, 1. I have never "squealed victim" that's a lie, 2. Your post at #97 is irrelevant to the claim that faith schools cause sectarianism, they do not, 3. I can hardly conceal or cover up something which is in the public domain, 4. Despite your defamatory abuse aimed at me, I am completely against any abuse of a vulnerable person. 5. I have wiped the floor with your trashy 'arguments' 6. I will copy and paste yet again the moderate and reasonable posts you have seen fit to get deleted, and let other reasonable people judge.
GarryOtton
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 04:17 PMhttp:www.thesun.co.uksolhomepagenews4115111Priests-in-4000-sex-assaults.html Spare me from you pointless squeals of 'victim'. 4,000 priests in sex abuse charges. Tell me how this helps the case for Catholic 'faith' schools? You don't have to answer it, but If you delete it, why should I not accuse you of concealing and covering up child abuse? This is an open forum.
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:50 PMComment removed by moderator
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 02:19 PMComment removed by moderator
PeterVincent
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:29 AMComment removed by moderator
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