Boards can require courses in religion

Earlier in June, there was significant coverage of the issue of religious education exemptions in Ontario’s Catholic schools.

The people of our province expect a distinctly Catholic learning environment in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools. Catholic school boards are entrusted to fulfil this important mandate.

Section 42 (13) of Ontario’s Education Act sets out the relevant exemption for programs or courses of study in religious education. This section applies to students who attend Catholic schools but whose parents are public school supporters.

The intent of Section 42 (13) is to accommodate the students of non-Catholic families who choose Catholic high schools for their children’s education.

This exemption does not in any way change Catholic district school boards’ rights to require Catholic students to take religious education courses in each of their four years of secondary school.

Ontario has developed one of the most successful publicly funded systems of education in the world. It has done so in large measure because of the choice provided through the distinct mission of each of its four school systems.

Together, these systems welcome and provide excellence in education to the 1.9 million students in Ontario. The four systems have helped shape the fabric of our society and made the quality of each better.

Working co-operatively with the other publicly funded school systems, Catholic schools have formed an integral part of Ontario for well over 180 years.

The graduates have helped shape the wonderful province and country we live in today.

The structure of publicly funded education in Ontario, and the Catholic schools that are such an important part of it are to be strengthened and celebrated.

Patrick J. Daly, president, Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association