I DO hope that the manufactured outrage from the Catholic Church at the perceived slight by Tommy Sheppard MP at a meeting 12 months ago, is not a sign of things to come (“MP in row on Catholic schooling”, The Herald, March 11).
At a time when the Scottish Parliament is grappling with how to make the Scottish education system work for all, it is important that all views are heard, no matter how uncomfortable for some.
What appears to have been missed in all of the outrage is that every state school in Scotland is a faith school of one sort or the other. This attack, by a few in the Catholic Church, on a prominent Humanist must not be allowed to scare secular voices from expressing a view.
So please let me restate the Humanist Society Scotland position for the avoidance of any doubt.
We believe that evidence should determine education policy. That is why we argue that children thrive when they learn alongside children of all faiths and none. It is why we want children at state schools to be taught about religion but not instructed in any particular faith. It is also why we want council education committees to be made up of elected members with no special voting rights for religious representatives.
Far from being intolerant we believe that this would represent an inclusive school system for a modern, ethical, rational and secular Scotland.
Gordon MacRae,
Chief executive, Humanist Society Scotland, Playfair House, Broughton Street Lane, Edinburgh.
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