Parents the final decision makers on education

By Archbishop Roussin, SM

When Pope Benedict XVI met Christian Democrat political leaders in Europe in March, he presented to them his agenda for marriage.

He said there are three non-negotiables when it comes to marriage. These are life, family, and education.

The last two of these, family and education, are currently of great concern to us here in British Columbia, where the provincial government has entered into an agreement with two private citizens that could jeopardize the right of parents to determine how their children are educated.

Although the agreement, which could lead to the introduction of morally objectionable material in the school system, is of particular concern for us as Catholics, this issue of parental rights and freedoms extends beyond our community and is worrisome for a broad range of faith groups, from other Christians to non-Christian groups.

My main concern is that, although Catholic and other independent schools have been assured by the government that the agreement does not apply to them, Catholic parents whose children attend public schools have been given no such assurances.

Indeed, there is widespread anxiety that this agreement will not only see the introduction of material that is in conflict with Catholic teaching on marriage and human sexuality at the earliest grade levels, but could go so far as to restrict the abilities of parents to determine whether their children are exposed to this material.

This would be clearly contrary to the fundamental and non-negotiable right of parents to raise their family and educate their children. The right of parents to determine how their children receive instruction on matters of faith and morals is a primary consideration, and anything that puts it at risk should not go unchallenged.

The agreement states that the Ministry of Education will consider public comments on its draft proposals. It is now up to us to take advantage of that opportunity. Across British Columbia, thousands of concerned parents and numerous organizations are already working to assert their rights to oversee their children’s education and keep it from being placed into the hands of unelected special interest groups.

I strongly urge you to become involved, and to contact the government with your concerns.

First and foremost, the government should be reminded that parents are the final decision makers when it comes to their children’s education. This is particularly so when it comes to their moral upbringing. As stated by Pope Benedict, the right of married couples to determine how their children are educated is simply non-negotiable. They must have the right to remove their children from problematic course content.

Second, advise the government of your concerns about the content and of your desire to be involved in the consultation process. If you don’t feel equipped to do this on your own, contact one of the numerous groups that are taking political action.

Pope Benedict says the right of parents to educate their children is "inscribed in human nature itself." We need to work to protect that basic right by expressing to the government our concerns.