Sir, - Having read with resigned amusement the articles entitled "Dunloy locals - and snow - stop Orange march and `For God and Ulster': what it means to politicians, churchmen" (November 25th), I was gobsmacked to read the Rt Rev Monsignor Faul's letter of the same edition. It begs one to question how we can mock unionists for their convictions, when the same divisive policies they espouse are reiterated by a learned man. Not only is denominational education defended, but it is described as a "duty and obligation".
Further to this, he states that through experience, "Catholic children do not `develop sectarian and bitter attitudes' "through denominational education. In reply to this, ask any Catholic schoolchild what (s)he thinks of Glasgow Rangers Football Club. This attitude is a throwback to the Catholic Church's stance on non denominational universities in the 19th century. It was a terrible mistake then, and a continued espousal of this policy will see the "them and us" mentality remain implanted in the minds of both Catholic and Protestants.
One has to question his definition of the word "pluralist", for haying denominational schools seems to contradict the meaning of the word. When he sees "infants wearing the sash . . burning images of the Pope", he is obviously looking at the pupils of non denominational schools. For children educated at exclusively Protestant schools would never take part in Orange marches, they would be pluralist in outlook.
However, the real tragedy of it all is that like Rev Martin Smyth, the Rt Rev Monsignor Faul is older, and thus wiser, than I. He lives in the North, and is therefore a first hand witness to the benefits of sectarian education. It makes one wonder how we are ever going to achieve peace in our island, if religious leaders continue to call for denominational education.
Young children are the best way to forward a religion, for they are told to believe something without any conclusive proof, and just don't have the capacity to question and evaluate what they are taught. Attitudes such as those expressed in your newspaper today are responsible for the situation in the North. We should be grateful that there is an Alliance Party not knocking it. - Yours, etc.,
Bilbao 48015,
Bizkaia,
Spain.