A new member. A Catholic school teacher.

[là bạn điên]

Respect to you Moncreif. I think I would have just carried on whilst encouraging pupils to 'investigate' evidence.

[Crossless2.0]

I know you're going through a rough patch, but you'll land on your feet. Ultimately it's the school's loss. When you leave, hold your head high.

Oh, and fuck 'em.

[FreeTony]

I think it's disgusting that under UK law that although there are all sorts of discrimination laws, they don't apply to non-profit religious organisations or faith schools.

If I ran a youth group and didn't let in Muslim kids I would be breaking the law. If I ran a church youth group then it's fine. Same goes for schools. Actually I would love it if all state schools were made secular, and that religion was left in church, rather than the current system where parents have to pretend to be religious to get their kid into the local school.


Good luck with it all.

[Mr. Moncrieff]

I can't see faith schools (or at least Catholic schools) being a viable social, economic or theological option in 15-20 years time.

Numbers are in serious decline; the church is rebelling against the 'membership entry' baptism culture and are informing priests to refuse families who do not attend church every week. The average age of congregations are increasing rapidly and the general appetite by parents to actively participate in their children's faith is dwindling.

Less baptisms will mean less families with a faith tradition, will mean less Catholic children, will mean a change in admission policies, will mean faith schools become arbitrary and their funding will be severely impaired.

---

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/01/07/r...and-wales/

[Minimalist]

Indeed. In the US.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-mcsw...86016.html

Clearly, the Church is dying. Do your research, Mr. Stetzer. According to the Hartford Institute of Religion Research, more than 40 percent of Americans "say" they go to church weekly. As it turns out, however, less than 20 percent are actually in church. In other words, more than 80 percent of Americans are finding more fulfilling things to do on weekends.

Furthermore, somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 churches close their doors every year. Southern Baptist researcher, Thom Rainer, in a recent article entitled "13 Issues for Churches in 2013" puts the estimate higher. He says between 8,000 and 10,000 churches will likely close this year.

In the UK.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/25...17580.html

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) A former archbishop of Canterbury has warned that the Church of England faces extinction in less than 25 years unless it can attract more young people now.

Talking to 300 churchgoers in Shropshire, West England (Nov. 18) on the eve of a church agreement to start a campaign to evangelize England, Lord George Carey said: “We ought to be ashamed of ourselves. We are one generation away from extinction and if we do not invest in young people there is going to be no one in the future.”

Light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps!

[Mr. Moncrieff]

I handed my letter in this morning. The headteacher came to see me before I left this evening and spoke quite candidly with me. The dialogue was generally quite constructive and he was appreciative that beliefs will develop. He was adamant that I should take part in sessions to reconcile myself with the church, but I politely refused and asked him not to further pursue that line.

He was less than satisfied with this, rather insistent that it was simply a phase I was going through and that I could find a middle ground. He was very supportive, insomuch as he made it plainly clear that he wanted to retain my employment status within the school and considered me a vital part of the staff.

However, he was noncommittal as to whether this would be the case should I refuse to attend the classes - I rather supposed it would not be the case, judging by his rhetoric and so I made that known.

He nodded in reply.

So basically, I attempt to reconcile myself with the church or my employment will be rather tenuous. I have informed him that I am seeking employment in a secular school and that I will uphold whatever duties he would demand with integrity and respect in the meantime. I am true to my word.

In summary, it looks as though I am moving on and going out with somewhat of a whimper. It is only a matter of time before colleagues become aware and start asking questions, but I have respectfully requested that this should not be a matter of public knowledge.

It remains to be seen if that will be respected.

I am rather crestfallen, to be frank.

A colleague just sent me a text, wondering why I have changed my views...

[Minimalist]

So much for the sanctity of the confessional....or some such blather, eh?

[Mr. Moncrieff]

So much for the sanctity of the confessional....or some such blather, eh?

I am not sure as to how I approach this now. If I give my word to act with integrity and respect, but cannot be afforded the same in kind, there exists a deeply flawed condition in that regard; an environment that is neither professionally sound nor personally trustworthy.

I am deeply unsettled by this.

How am I now expected to remain at the school and stay true to my promises to uphold the desires of the church when my own desires are so wantonly disregarded?

[Minimalist]

At least they most likely won't burn you at the stake.



(Much as they'd like to.)

[Faith No More]

I am not sure as to how I approach this now. If I give my word to act with integrity and respect, but cannot be afforded the same in kind, there exists a deeply flawed condition in that regard; an environment that is neither professionally sound nor personally trustworthy.

I am deeply unsettled by this.

How am I now expected to remain at the school and stay true to my promises to uphold the desires of the church when my own desires are so wantonly disregarded?

Perhaps you can tell the headteacher your disappointment.

Whatever you do, I wouldn't let them take the dignity and integrity you've kept so far.