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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be v annoyed at 'God only cares about Catholics'

106 replies

BrittaPerry · 30/09/2012 10:31

WT actual F?

Dd1 is 5, and in year one of a Catholic school against my will (only school with a place, despite us waiting till summer on 8 waiting lists, and I was too ill to HE)

DH persuaded me to let her go because he assumed it had better academic results and that she would learn Latin Hmm

Anyhow, the latest Ofsted and league tables are 'satisfactory' and only the forth in the area for level five and above at year six. It also has much less special needs and free school meals, so no excuse. Not that all that is the most important thing, but DH doesn't have that to hide behind.

Now, I have no problem at all with other people bringing up their child how they like, as long as we are allowed to do the same. I do think that views that aren't inclusive and suitable for all need to be kept away from state provision, however. If you need more than Sunday school, or after school madrassa, or whatever, go to private or HE.

I wasn't happy up to now anyway, but my FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD has just told me that her teacher said she has to pray every night, on her knees, so that God cares about her. God looks after people who love him only, and he only likes Catholics. Everyone else makes him sad, apparently, and he doesn't like them or look after them.

Can I add that they have already had homework saying that the only way to be Catholic is o be baptised? DD is not baptised. She also attended her parents wedding.

I told her that, if I believed in God, I would think that he would be friendly and love everyone.

DH has reluctantly agreed to look at other schools, but he says all schools teach the same kind of thing, because of the 'collective worship' in assembly.

When she started, they told me that all they o is pray at the start and finish of the day, and sometimes have events in church.

This is a whole new level.

Aibu to be wanting my child out of there asap?

OP posts:
WelshMaenad · 30/09/2012 12:15

I don't think it's made up, I've heard of much similar shit being spouted by rogue Catholics in the past. I've also heard of a fervently religious dinner lady in a nondenominational primary trying yobgircevthe children to say grace before they ate their food, so the religious crazies are indeed everywhere.

WelshMaenad · 30/09/2012 12:16

*force the. Don't know where that came from #speaking in tongues

AKissIsNotAContract · 30/09/2012 12:16

'Wrong , my dds are catholic I am not and I don't recall ever hearing the pope saying anything like that at all'

Rosa: the pope says it here:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19692094/ns/world_news-europe/t/pope-other-denominations-not-true-churches/#.UGgplFGsfAA

Floggingmolly · 30/09/2012 12:19

Gt a grip Welsh. The religious crazies are everywhere Hmm
The crazies certainly are.

Narked · 30/09/2012 12:19

I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church?

I've never heard anyone say that God only loves Catholics. Ever.

Narked · 30/09/2012 12:21

And just about every flavour of every religion believes it's the one and only right one.

Viviennemary · 30/09/2012 12:21

The teacher has got it wrong. God loves everyone. Even the worst sinners. So there's even hope for me!

Anniegetyourgun · 30/09/2012 12:21

Ah, I can explain that one, PedanticPanda. Free school meals are given out to children whose parents don't earn very much. The only excuse for not earning very much is that you're thick. Thickness is hereditary. Therefore the children of the not-very-well-off will inevitably drag down the school's results. HTH.

JakeBullet · 30/09/2012 12:22

What alphas of rubbish...she would not be taught that in my DS's Catholic school...which has plenty of non-Catholics too. Nor would she hear it from either of the priests attached to our school.

WelshMaenad · 30/09/2012 12:25

I'd certainly classify "god doesn't love you unless you're a baptised catholic" and "say thank you to god or I'll confiscate your lunch" as specifically religious craziness, floggingmolly, no additional grip required!

PedanticPanda · 30/09/2012 12:29

My DS has special needs and is on free school meals, his poor head teacher must be kicking herself for enrolling him.

JakeBullet · 30/09/2012 12:33

Mine s on FSM and is autistic. His Catholic school have been just utterly brilliant with him, really really supportive. And he has never been told anything like what the OP's DD has been....I think that's an awful thing to say and is not right in any case,

AKissIsNotAContract · 30/09/2012 12:35

'I've never heard anyone say that God only loves Catholics. Ever.'

I was taught at convent school that only catholics would go to heaven when they die, is that not a very similar idea?

lolaflores · 30/09/2012 12:42

"I believe in one God and in one holy catholic and apostolic church" may be the line you are thinking of. recited at mass every week as confirmation of ones devotion. catholic meaning widespread or something.

Liketochat1 · 30/09/2012 12:47

I went to a convent school and never heard anyone say non Catholics would be damned. In fact, I felt envious of them because I understood God wouldn't blame them if they didn't believe. He would only blame those who had been given the opportunity and rejected him!
Anyway, I would definitely speak to the teacher. My children attend a Catholic school and I've never heard of this being said. It 'may' be a misunderstanding.

flyoverthegoldenhill · 30/09/2012 12:55

I'm with Narked
I don't believe this, but if its true the problem is with you and DH.
In this area you cannot get into an RC school without being baptised.
I went to a very strict catholic school. We were taught God loves everyone. And about Darwinism, which I felt was delightfully ironic ! (being taught both I mean).
As for latin I didn't think any primary school did that.

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/09/2012 13:06

Oh ffs. I went for a bath.

If anyone can find me a place in a school in my area, please do. There were 60 children left over in our area after all the places were allcated. North East o England.

What a lucky lot you are, with your choices aout schooling.

OP posts:
LonelyCloud · 30/09/2012 13:07

YANBU to be upset about the teacher telling your DD that God only likes Catholics.

I went to a Catholic primary and secondary school, and I never heard that kind of rubbish from a teacher. We were taught that God loves everyone. In your position, I would arrange to speak to the teacher and express your concerns about this. It may be a misunderstanding. If it's not, and the teacher actually did say this, I would consider speaking to the headteacher about this.

But YABU if you're getting upset about your DD getting taught about Catholism, given it's a Catholic school. And it's correct that you have to be baptised as a Catholic to be a Catholic.

LonelyCloud · 30/09/2012 13:10

And incidentally, my primary school did no latin at all. You could do latin at secondary school, but only as an extra voluntary subject outside of normal school hours.

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/09/2012 13:20

Are we really doubting that fm and sn are relevant to how many kids get level 5?

My dd is on fsm and I am doing a degree in social policy. Kids from deprived backgrounds DO tend to get worse exam results. For many reason, none of which are to do with eugenics. Would you like some peer reviewed journals on that?

Kids with special needs find some things difficult, hence the special needs. Not all will affect academic ability, but they wouldn't be special needs if they din 't make it harder for the child o access education in some way, would they?

So, yes, you do need o take these things into account when looking at league tables. Unless you think that all kids have completely equal chances in life and it is all based on merit.

And where did I say all Catholic schools ar like this? Was that before or after I described my sixth form that was nothing like this?

And how, pray tell, is the problem with me and DH? I would say the problem is one of:

  • dd misunderstanding
  • the teacher
  • the school
  • Sunderland council knocking down primary schools, then not having enough so kids end up in unsuitable schools
  • laws th mean that state schools are allowed to teach religious stuff

THEN maybe us for being too poor/ill to HE till a place came up Hmm

OP posts:
XiCi · 30/09/2012 13:30

YANBU to have grave concerns about what has been said to your 5 year old. YABU to take a small child's word as to what has been said. You need to go into the school and sort this issue out, find out exactly what has been said, what they are teaching in class. It may be that your child has misunderstood, and if not, at least then you will in full possession of the facts.

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/09/2012 13:31

But thanks for the support from everyone else :)

Don't mind debate, but people so sheltered as o think that kids from deprived backgrounds don't have more to deal with, or that all areas are EXACTLY like theirs are just being annoying.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/09/2012 13:32

I think I will need to ask the school. How do I phrase it?

OP posts:
PanofOlympus · 30/09/2012 13:33

God cares about the Jews and the Hindus and the Muslims and the Protestants and the Buhddists and the Baptists and the Mormons.

But he prefers the Catholics.

Original poster
BrittaPerry · 30/09/2012 13:34

I told DH he was bing silly about the Latin :)

He jus seem o have some weird idea that it is harder to get into the catholic school (it isn't ) and so it MUST be better Hmm

OP posts: