Parramatta Catholics call for Bishop Vincent Long’s removal on PC syllabus
Moves for the introduction of a radical religious education syllabus which would result in students studying atheism and gender identity has led angry parishioners to call for the removal of Parramatta’s bishop.
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- Catholic kids to study atheism, gender identities
- Parramatta schools go woke and sell out their identity
Disgruntled parishioners are calling for the removal of Bishop Vincent Long amid growing opposition to the Diocese of Parramatta’s new religious education syllabus which would lead to Catholic school students studying atheism and gender identity alongside traditional teachings.
The Daily Telegraph this month revealed students would be encouraged to ask questions including “Is sexuality optional? Does the Church’s teaching on sexuality have any value or relevance to modern life? How does social media construct sexual identity?”
Father John O’Neill from St John Vianney church in Doonside has defied diocese head office to criticise the new curriculum and ban it from being taught in the parish school.
“I have forbidden it in this school … the CEO has no authority over this school,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“It is not going to happen here, they are not in charge.”
The online petition calling for the bishop’s removal after his four-year tenure already has more than 2400 signatures.
“Since his appointment, the Bishop has … approved changes to the Parramatta (Catholic) schools curriculum to include ideas of gender fluidity and atheism,” the petition said.
Meanwhile another priest, Father John Rizzo, who last week said the new curriculum was against the Catholic teachings of the church, was summoned to the chancery and told to stop publicly criticising the new syllabus.
“As a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Parramatta, I kindly remind the Catholic Education Office of Parramatta of their crucial responsibility in teaching their students of the importance of the 10 Commandments (and) the Catholic teachings of morality,“ he said in an open letter last week. “Catholic faithful are sick and tired of politically correct agendas being thrown at the innocence of their children.”
The Telegraph understands Father Rizzo was summoned to the chancery on Thursday where Vicar General Father Peter Williams told him to stop publicly criticising the policy.
However, a Diocese of Parramatta spokesman denied Father Rizzo had been silenced.
“It is not the case that the Church is trying to silence opposition. We welcome discussion of these important issues. There are designated spokespeople on certain topics authorised to discuss issues with the media and speak on behalf of any organisation,” he said.
He said priests in the Diocese were closely involved in consultation about the draft curriculum for the past two years but said it would not be available publicly.
“The Draft New Curriculum is just that: a draft, subject to ongoing review,” he said.
“For these reasons, it had not been our intention to share it widely at this time.”
However, it is understood public criticism has sparked a “firestorm” of complaints about the new plan from unhappy parishioners and parents.
Mum Jill Johnston from Beaumont Hills said she sent her three daughters to Catholic schools because she wanted them to learn about the faith.
“I am a devout practising Catholic. My husband and I chose to send my three daughters to Catholic Schools to develop and enhance their Faith in line with the Catholic Catechism,” she said.
“I am concerned that the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta failed to consult parents or even discuss the content of the new Religious curriculum with any of us.
“We were just simply informed that the draft had taken place and was already being trialled in some schools. The Dioceses has been very poor in their response to allowing parents to even have access to this draft curriculum.”
Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Catholic University Dr Kevin Donnelly said complex contemporary issues needed to be taught in schools but said parents were right to expect it to be taught in a way which aligned with their values.
“Parents are choosing a faith-based school generally because they want a sense that the morals and spiritual values taught in the classrooms will be in tune with what parents want,” Prof Donnelly said.
“Catholic education is unique in that it offers a school experience based on the catechism and the teachings of the church so any move to offer something that doesn’t conform to its doctrine, I would be very worried about.”
Deakin University Associate Professor Anna Halafoff who worked on a three year study of religious education in Australian schools said children wanted to learn about controversial issues and other religions.
She said it was common to have a diversity of opinions within a single religion about what was appropriate for children to be taught.
“You are going to have a really full spectrum from conservative to progressive,” she said.
“Young people themselves are very aware of these intersections around religious diversity and sexuality diversity and they’re very concerned, they really value respect for religious diversity and sexuality.
“They said in our study they want to learn more about these issues, they want to have these difficult conversations because this stuff is in the media.”
Originally published as Parramatta Catholics call for Bishop Vincent Long’s removal on PC syllabus