A theologically based argument for non-confessional Religious Education in Catholic schools
Abstract
This paper offers a theologically based argument for non-confessional Religious Education in Catholic schools. For many advocates of Catholic education the idea of non-confessional RE in Catholic schools is at best an oxymoron and at worst a contradiction in terms. In what follows, attention will initially be given to describing the reluctance held by many ‘insiders’ or advocates of Catholic education to engage with the confessional character of Religious Education in Catholic schools. It will be explained that there is muddled and ambiguous thinking around the attempt to distinguish between Religious Education and catechesis. It is this which helps to obscure the confessional nature of both Catholic education and Religious Education in Catholic schools. It will be proposed that the time has come to argue in support of non-confessional Religious Education in Catholic schools. It is this rather than asserting a complementary relationship between Religious Education and catechesis that is most needed. In Catholic schools Religious Education should be uncoupled from confessional or catechetical approaches to the subject. It is only through adopting a non-confessional approach to both Catholic education and Religious Education in Catholic schools that many of the challenges to faith schools can be successfully overcome.
A theologically based argument for non-confessional Religious Education in Catholic schools
This paper offers a theologically based argument for non-confessional Religious Education in Catholic schools. For many advocates of Catholic education the idea of non-confessional RE in Catholic schools is at best an oxymoron and at worst a contradiction in terms. In what follows, attention will initially be given to describing the reluctance held by many ‘insiders’ or advocates of Catholic education to engage with the confessional character of Religious Education in Catholic schools. It will be explained that there is muddled and ambiguous thinking around the attempt to distinguish between Religious Education and catechesis. It is this which helps to obscure the confessional nature of both Catholic education and Religious Education in Catholic schools. It will be proposed that the time has come to argue in support of non-confessional Religious Education in Catholic schools. It is this rather than asserting a complementary relationship between Religious Education and catechesis that is most needed. In Catholic schools Religious Education should be uncoupled from confessional or catechetical approaches to the subject. It is only through adopting a non-confessional approach to both Catholic education and Religious Education in Catholic schools that many of the challenges to faith schools can be successfully overcome.