Churches launch school plan for Protestants

An extensive cross-denominational partnership between churches on both sides of the Border came to fruition today with the launch of a new programme for primary schools in Ireland.

We know it will be of immense value and blessing to our schools in the Republic, and I hope it will also prove to be a useful additional resource to parishes throughout the island. Archbishop Robin Eames

In total four churches - the Church of Ireland, the Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic churches - worked together to produce the programme aimed at improving religious education in Protestant primary schools.

It is designed to promote the growth of "an ethically aware and responsible society" the Church of Ireland said.

The new approach was developed in conjunction with the Catholic Episcopal Commission on Catechetics.

The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, said that religious education is a primary concern of his organisation.

"Northern Ireland, perhaps quite surprisingly to the rest of the world, has given a unique lead in that the Catholic church and the three main reformed churches ten years ago produced a common core programme in religious education," Dr Eames said.

"This has brought forth much fruit and a process of revision of this core, I hope, is about to be agreed between the four Chruches and the Department of Education."

"We know it will be of immense value and blessing to our schools in the Republic, and I hope it will also prove to be a useful additional resource to parishes throughout the island," said Dr Eames.