Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Valladolid (Agenzia Fides) - The Presidential Councilor and spokesman for the Castilla-Leon regional government declared that conscientious objections to the school course entitled, “Education for Citizenship” (EpC), would not be accepted in that region. In response to this situation, the Bishops of Castilla-Leon have issued a statement on “Education for Citizenship,” defending the rights of parents to object to the course.
The Bishops mention that “the State cannot legitimately impose formation of conscience on students without free consent of parents,” and that “the right of parents to choose their children’s moral and religious formation is primordial, irreplaceable, and inalienable.” Thus, “parents have the right to conscientiously object to the teaching of this EpC course, as well as filing personal complaints against the Law, as legitimate means within their reach of defending the right they have of being the ones who determine the moral education of their children.” Moreover, the schools “should respect parents’ decisions and not interfere in their exercising their fundamental rights.” They conclude the statement by expressing their hope that the course may not be implemented in their Dioceses in the manner planned thus far.
The platform group “Professionals for Ethics” has also spoken out on the issue, saying that “with this attitude, the government of Castilla-Leon takes on intransigent stances that characterize other autonomous communities such as Asturias and Andalucia, where not only has this constitutional right been ignored, but objectors to this controversial course are receiving threats.” Six months after the opening of the EpC debate in Castilla-Leon, Professionals for Ethics had already registered 1,744 objectors. In recent weeks, the number of objections continues rapidly increasing.
“The parents objectors of Castilla-Leon, as is the case of all those in Spain, are only claiming what is their constitutional right to conscientious objection and the complete fulfillment of Article 27.3 of the Spanish Constitution, that declares it a right of parents to educate their children in accord with their moral and philosophical convictions,” said Leonor Tamayo of Professionals for Ethics. “The Presidential Councilor has stated that objections to EpC have no place in Castilla-Leon, because in his community the ideological contents have been suppressed. However, parents object because the course still maintains the objective of forming the moral conscience of students.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2008; righe 32, parole 372)
