AMERICA/VENEZUELA - National Week of Religious Instruction in Schools discusses proposed Bill to exclude religion as a subject in Venezuelan schools

Caracas (Fides Service) - The National Office for Religious Instruction in Schools ERE belonging to the Catholic Bishops' commission for education has promoted a National Week of Religious Instruction in Schools 4 - 8 June to offer teachers an opportunity to strengthen the moral values of their pupils by illuminating situations of concrete life with the message of the Gospel.
The national ERE co-ordinator Constantino Noé says this year's slogan "Thank for teaching us that we are children of God", was chosen “to underline the importance of religious instruction in schools, to open young people to the spiritual dimension of life and reveal our condition as children of God, which is part of Venezuelan integral education and must be visible in the life of the new citizens as the country demands".
The Week this year will strive to increase awareness with regard to a proposed Bill for a new Education law, particularly with regard to article 8, which is an attempt to exclude religious instruction from the national school curriculum. Activities during the week include courses for teachers in various cities, Caracas, Machiques, San Cristobal, El Vigia, Mérida, Maracaibo, Cumaná e Città Guayana as well as meetings for reflection and music festivals which will culminate with the ERE National Festival in Maturín. In Caracas on June 8 at Good Shepherd Parish church the Archbishop of Caracas Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, will preside a special Mass for teachers. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/6/2007; righe 20, parole 260)