Faith schools should say homosexuality is normal..

[daftpunk]

Why can't people just leave us alone

As far as I am concerned the point of having faith is that you believe in what that faith says. If the pope were to condone homosexuality and it were against the catholic faith he would be a hypocrit for saying it. I therefore hold the same view for faith achools.

I think the onus is on the individual to decide whether to accept this teaching or not.

what do you mean Aitch? Surely your handbag contains: Purse, Mooncup, Phone, New Jerusalem Bible?

rosary beads, holy water (for the vampires) and a copy of grazia magazine (is angelina on diet pills?) i'm afraid.

But where do you keep your relics?

Aitch, yes it applies to all those who support the bible (and I think Islam too in that respect)

But this was about Catholics wondering why they are considered to be anti gay when they personally are not.

btw Aitch I agree with "tell their pupils not to bully each other for whatever reason". I'm not sure we actually need a rule for each kind of bullying.

"...encourage them, through discussion and debating of the church's teachings, to stand up where necessary and reject them"

Well, that would be nice, but it seems unlikely to ever become a widespread approach in faith schools, wouldn't you say? Kind of defeats the purpose.

Love to see DP's face if her kids came home and said, 'Today in RE, we debated the church's stance on condoms and decided it was a load of old bollocks'

Aitch, yes it applies to all those who support the bible

Lol @ support the Bible

that would make a bit of a shit placard

Of course there is a Catholic Bible, did the nuns teach you nothing?

I can't believe people are arguing for the right for schools to teach children that there is something wrong with being gay, what century is this? The article the OP links to is about protecting against homophobic bullying, and several on here seem to be complaining that its their right to encourage homophobia (and presumably not be too concerned about the bullying).

Nice people.

I think you just can't believe anyone would disagree with you...

Actually I am ok with teaching children that "some people believe this". I think it is part of their education.

Every time we say that is ok though we get people teaching that "some people believe this because it is true".

Erm no, not when it comes to a state-funded school's right to teach homophobia, no

smallwhitecat, the point is that no school should be allowed to teach belief as fact.

lol MP. 'support the bible' was the most neutral phrase I could think of that wouldn't have me set upon by those who believe it all and those who believe in some of it.

what do you mean, 'that woudl be nice'? that's how most catholic schools that i know teach nowadays, more comparative religion and debate than anything else. there is absolutely EVERY CHANCE that dp's children will come home from school having discussed the church's stance on condoms and decided that it was a load of bollocks. the jesuits (of 'give me the child' fame) who taught me were encouraging us to have that discussion twenty-five years ago.

RE lessons are fantastic imo for teenagers, it's a great opportunity to speak to their teachers as real people and discuss moral and ethical issues.

I can't beleive anyone disagrees with NOT teaching small children to hate people because of their sexuality. I must be crazy because I know how many foolish people hold horrible opinions, yet I'm still surprised by it. yeah, shame on me.

The trouble is, YouKnowNothing, that for some people the statement 'Homosexuality is normal and harmless' is seen as a matter of PC dogma rather than one of fact

Oh, so now schools are saying you must hate gays, are they? Gosh, they've hardened the lines since this thread began! Does Nick Clegg know about this dramatic departure?

Not shame on you for being so lovely and tolerant of all people Poo (except those blasted Catholics, eh?) but shame on you for not allowing any viewpoint that differs from your own.

well not really, virtual, but if you're not being allowed to discuss it, they are teaching gay kids to hate themselves. fortunately so many of our teachers were blessed old bufties that they wouldn't really have pushed that line.

what on earth are you talking about Virtually? Where exactly have I not allowed any other opinion (and I didn't realise I was in charge of other peoples opinions)?

If a person or a school has a problem with saying "homosexuality is normal and harmless", they obviously hold the opinion that it is not harmless or normal. They should not pass this on to impressionable children, in my opinion.

I'm very tolerant of catholics, my son goes to a catholic school. One that teaches equality and respect for all people, and not just the ones they find "acceptable".

All Catholic schools teach equality and respect for all people. At least the ones I've visited in my work do. Gays no different. I can't imagine any RE teacher in a Catholic school being prepared to teach that homosexuals are devient and should be shunned.

Where are people getting this stuff from?

If its as you say, InStyle, maybe theres no issue. Or maybe Mr Clegg was thinking more about Islamic or Irish Protestant schools (about which I know nothing, incidentally, just speculating)