Cardinal attacks councils' sex education 'agenda'

THE leader of Scotland’s Catholics will today reignite the debate over sex education in schools by accusing some health boards and councils of "pushing an agenda" that runs contrary to Christian teaching.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien will also warn that the Church must "remain vigilant" over the way the Scottish Executive’s guidelines on sex education are implemented.

The cardinal provoked anger last year when he accused ministers of ushering in "state-sponsored sexual abuse" of children over their plans for a nationwide sexual-health strategy.

Under the plans, outlined by the health minister, Andy Kerr, in January, abstaining from sex at a young age will be promoted in the classroom. However, all Scots pupils will also be able to access contraception services outside of school.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Catholic Headteachers’ Association of Scotland today, Cardinal O’Brien will voice doubts at the way the Executive’s guidelines are being implemented.

He will say: "It is clear to me that, as a Church, we need to remain vigilant in this area. I fear that this will be particularly vital where health boards or local councils may be pushing an agenda which fails to take into account our own Christian understanding of the human person and of human sexuality.

"It appears that some agencies, in their legitimate determination to reduce teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, appear only to be treating the symptoms of the problem rather than addressing its root causes.

"There are already signs that some agencies are determined to promote a safe-sex message to all young people, irrespective of their age, schooling or religious belief."

A spokeswoman for the Executive said headteachers had the final say on how sex education was taught.