Headteacher interview, Bishop's question

[Soreteatowel]

Catholic state school recruiting a new head. I was part of the interview panel, which I've done for heads before, but not in a Catholic school.

A representative from the diocese attended specifically to ask "The Bishop's Question", which was:

"In the eyes of God, are you an appropriate person for this role" Yes or No answer required.

Is this the Catholic Church makinng an effort to protect children after all the horrors or something else?

Is this usual? It seems ridiculous to expect anyone to answer other than yes, what's the point of it?

Yes, normal. Headteachers of Catholic schools have to be practising Catholics and usually have to provide a reference from their priest in addition to the usual employment references.

The point is that for a practising Christian that question can only be answered honestly, because to lie would be a sin.

Yes, I get that but if you're not an honest Christian it won't have any meaning at all, so what does it prove?

It doesn’t prove anything. Faith isn’t science and proof rarely features. The expectation is that the candidate will have prayed about their application for the role and have a sense of whether it is right for them. There are ways to check if someone goes through the motions of practising the faith, hence the priest’s reference, but this question speaks directly to their relationship with God. In the same way, laying a hand on a Bible when being sworn in in court will be deeply meaningful to some but to others it will make no difference to whether or not they are truthful.

If you are not a genuine Christian then I imagine you would be unlikely to go for the job. There are easier ways to become a headteacher than faking practising Catholicism!