Following comments by the Archbishop of Wales criticising the decision of the Welsh Assembly to allow sixth fomers to withdraw themselves from collective worship, Accord has called for an end to compulsory collective worship in all schools.
Under laws dating back decades, all schools except non-Christian faith schools are required to have a daily act of collective worship of a “wholly or mainly broadly Christian character”. The consequence is that many schools are forced to make the choice between breaking the law and holding religious services that staff, students, parents and governors consider inappropriate. Although all parents have the right to withdraw their children from collective worship, young people are not allowed to make the choice for themselves.
Responding, Accord Chair Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain said:
“Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has already argued that compulsory collective worship infringes the rights of children and that the law should be changed. Astonishing as it seems, until this year Welsh teenagers legally old enough to get married, join the army or start a family have not had the freedom of their own consciences in school. I wonder whose interests Archbishop Morgan thinks are served by forcing those who are not Christian to go through the motions?”
Alex Kennedy is the Coalition Coordinator
Email this author | All posts by Alex Kennedy
