DUP will 'stand up for Christian ethos' after Supreme Court rules Religious Education not 'objective, critical or pluralist'
The DUP has said it will “stand up” for the Christian ethos of schools after the Supreme Court found their collective worship and Religious Education in Northern Ireland was not “objective, critical and pluralist”.
The Supreme Court ruled today that Christian religious education in Northern Ireland schools does not comply with human rights standards and is unlawful.
In a landmark judgment, the court upheld an appeal brought by a pupil at a Belfast school and her father and reinstated an earlier court ruling that the teaching of RE and collective worship breaches human rights as it does not approach the subject in an “objective, critical and pluralist manner”.
In response, the DUP’s Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA and Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said the DUP will “continue to stand up for the Christian ethos of our schools”.
Ms McIlveen, a previous Northern Ireland Education Minister said: “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is deeply disappointing. While we respect the Court and the legal process, this ruling will concern many parents, governors, teachers and faith communities across Northern Ireland for whom the ethos is so important.
"For generations, Christian values have shaped the moral character of our school system. Through assemblies, school activities and the everyday life of the classroom, those values have helped form young people with integrity and respect for others. That heritage is not something we apologise for, nor is it something we are prepared to see diminished.”
Carla Lockhart, who attended today’s judgement in the Supreme Court, added: “We are very fortunate in Northern Ireland to have an Education Minister who understands the importance of those Christian foundations and who is committed to safeguarding them within the framework of the law. That leadership will be essential as we consider the implications of today’s judgment and determine the next steps.
"Parents have always had the ability to opt out of collective worship if they wish, and that will continue. But despite today’s ruling, our determination remains firm. We will continue to work to ensure that Christian values remain central to education in Northern Ireland, protecting the heritage that has served our society well for decades.”