The Roman Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales has decreed that Catholic secondary schools in England should teach Judaism as the non-Christian religion they must study in Religious Education (RE) GCSE. As the faith is already taught in Catholic schools due to Christianity’s roots in Judaism, it means Catholic schools will undertake the least amount of change necessary to comply with a new Government stipulation that schools in England study two religions in detail in RE GCSE. The requirement was introduced in part to help ensure faith schools teach about a faith other than that of the school, so broadening pupils’ horizons.
Chair of the Accord Coalition, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, said ‘Rather than teaching about a major world faith that helps you understand history of your own, faith school’s should use the opportunity to teach about another faith as a tool for better social integration. Instead of having a doctrinaire approach and declaring that all Catholic schools must teach Judaism at GCSE, individual schools should choose to study belief systems that are the most helpful in boosting the growth of mutual understanding in the local area, so helping pupils better understand their neighbours.’
‘Insisting that Catholic schools must shun the detailed study of any other faith than Judaism smacks of a desire not to love neighbours from different backgrounds, and is religiously irresponsible. The Bishops Conference has made a mistake and should reconsider its position.’
The Religious Education Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools and Colleges in England and Wales presents the existing broad content of Religious Education which the Bishops Conference expects to be taught in Catholic schools. The Directory puts forwards a heavily doctrinal approach to the teaching of RE, which has the primary aim of inculcating Catholic belief in pupils. It provides little insight into non-Judaeo-Christian beliefs, and makes no mention of non-religious perspectives.
