Communion lessons to be taken out of school
Church to introduce policy reforms after survey results
PREPARATION for Holy Communion and Confirmation is to be moved out of the classroom under policy reforms within the Catholic Church.
The Archdiocese of Dubin has decided to reform preparations around the sacraments in schools based on a survey of 1,800 parents, priests and school principals.
Parents will now have to register directly with the parish for their children to receive the sacraments of initiation.
Some clerics have called for less fake tan and bouncy castles, and the policy advocates for “small group celebrations” for a “more prayerful, personal experience”. Archbishop Dermot Farrell announced the shift in policy, which has been in development for four years. He said: “What emerged from this consultation was a clear desire for substantial change and innovation, coupled with the challenge of finding ways of responding to the complex reality of faith in family life. “In this deeper engagement, it became clear that new patterns were emerging that could strengthen the partnership between family, parish and school.”
A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Dublin said the new policy aims to involve families from baptism to confirmation.
Last night, Atheist Ireland spokesman Michael Nugent said: “This is something we have been campaigning for for years, and is further progress towards a secular state. The next logical step is to remove faith formation in Statefunded
schools. Schools should teach and churches should preach.
“State-funded schools should not promote either religion or atheism.
“They should treat everybody equally, regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs.
“In the meantime, schools should respect the right of parents and students to not attend religious instruction, and should offer them an alternative timetabled subject.”