Denying consent for religious visits

[BlueUggs]

My son goes to a fantastic private school, which is catholic but we aren't catholic....
Since he entered year 7, I feel they have really started to push Catholicism onto my child. I have just refused consent for him to attend the local catholic church on a visit next week because I feel they are trying to convert him and he knows enough for year 3 from what they tell him at school.
We knew the school was catholic when we sent him there but didn't realise quite how much they were going to push it.....
AIBU?

Yes, YABU. This is part and parcel of Catholic schooling.

It's a catholic school. Don't send your child there if you're not catholic.

Personally I'd abolish all religious schools (I'm Christian as well)

Well, yes. You sent your son knowing to a religious school, so I don't think you can complain that it turns out to be religious. I guess you will have to decide if the rest of what they offer is worth you putting up with the religious side, or if you'd rather he went to school elsewhere.

Since he entered year 7, I feel they have really started to push Catholicism onto my child.

Shocking.

Well it's a Catholic school?

I went to catholic school (I'm catholic) this is a normal part of going to catholic school, they aren't trying to convert him, this is just what they do...

If you object to catholic religion why not send him to a non religious school

Why on earth would you send your kid to a Catholic school??

We knew the school was catholic when we sent him there but didn't realise quite how much they were going to push it

Are you serious? You’re pretty naive if you really believed that. It’s like going to a car dealership and then being surprised that someone is trying to sell you a car!

Err.. yes you are!! Why on earth did you send him to a Catholic school when you object so strongly to the Catholic beliefs?! The thing about Catholic schools is it's not just RS lessons once a week, its about being educated in a Catholic environment. If you aren't on board with that then your ds is in the wrong school.

Have you asked your son what he wants to do? What will he be doing instead? If you chose a catholic school for your son surely you asked all the right questions such as how much religious education they had, how many times a day they pray (3 times at our catholic school). Not sure why you sent him if you don’t want him to participate fully in school life.

I was brought up Catholic and went to Catholic schools all my life and it had the opposite effect on me.

DS1 goes to a private Catholic school and is another religion entirely. He just lets it all wash over him. The school is the right one for him and the ethos is something that my DH (other religion) is comfortable with.

I would actually say that the more boring church visits he does the less likely he is to end up Catholic.

What does your son want to do? Does he want to visit the Catholic church? I'd say by year 7 he will have a fair idea of whether he wants to engage or not.

If he wants to go you should let him. He might end up Catholic since you chose to send him to a school that is based on that religion. Or he might not. If you have a strong preference for which religion he ends up practising (or doesn't) it seems a bit odd to have sent him to a Catholic school.

Totally unreasonable. The RC high school mine went to at parents' induction the head stressed thsat it was a Catholic school and they would not dilute their doctrine for anyone. Which I think is fair.

You chose a catholic school for your son and now you're whinging that the faith is part of its curriculum? LOL

I'm SO sorry, he is 7 years old and in year 3. My mistake!!

My friend is actually Catholic and even she feels her dc's secondary school is 'too Catholic'. But I think YABU.

Echoing PPs. YABVU.

You chose to send your son to a catholic school. What on Earth did you expect?

This is a wind up right. My daughter attended a Catholic school and they clearly let us know that the school had a Catholic ethos and there was an expectation she would adhere to it.

Just to add, I felt that I couldcounteract the more extreme doctrine at home, and so it proved.

Don't they go to mass regularly anyway? Our local Catholic schools attend mass of feast days, as well as the first Friday of every month. Is this not usual?

Slightly surprised that you'd send your child to a school like this without realising what it actually entails. Most Catholic schools include their religion in many areas of the curriculum, and have strong ties to their local churches.

Were you also surprised that they teach him at 'school' ?

Ffs

Then why send him to a catholic school? Of course they'll push the catholic religion more.

What did you expect from a Catholic college?

Yes, I did expect them to bring religion into it, of course.....
But I feel they are ramming to down his throat. He's 7 and very gullible and takes everything they say literally.....
I sent him to that catholic school because it is the only private school in the area that would accept him....the other 2 non-religious private schools were oversubscribed and refused him due to slight SN which they weren't prepared to accommodate. We went with private because he struggles in big groups of children..

Its not always a choice though. my son didnt get a place in any of our chosen schools and instead was offered a place in a faith cofe school. I declined it as im not religious and wasnt happy for him to go but it meant he started school 6 months late. (had to appeal the place)