[HeartStrongList] Catholic Schools Backtrack on Gay Course

[heartstrong at heartstrong.org]

Hi Everyone,
This article is also available on our website.  One of the many things
that HeartStrong works on in other countries.  What was a great
requirement by the government in Spain is now being cast aside.  We will
keep you updating on this story as it progresses.
Thanks
Marc
http://www.heartstrong.org


Catholic School in Spain Backtracks, Parents No Longer Forced to Accept
Pro-Homosexual Course

By Elizabeth O'Brien

MADRID, Spain, June 21, 2007 - Last week HazteOir.org (HO), a Madrid-based
rights protection organization, began ranking schools in Spain based on
their policy on conscientious objection by parents towards a national
pro-homosexual course, Catholic News Agency Reports. Since then certain
schools are beginning to rethink their position regarding the course and
those who object to it.

The controversial Educación para la Ciudadanía (EcP) (Education for
Citizenship) Course, was introduced last January by the socialist
government under Prime Minister Zapatero. Intended to replace ethics
classes, the compulsory course teaches that abortion, homosexuality and
various other sexual behaviors are acceptable above parental objection. It
also denies objective truth, forming a child's moral sense from an
atheistic and materialistic perspective.

Despite these facts, the course is being taught in educational centers
throughout all of Catholic Spain, including schools run by religious
congregations, says CNA. Furthermore, these institutions are violating the
right to conscientious objection that is constitutionally sanctioned in
Spain.

Since HO began ranking schools, however, certain schools are seriously
rethinking their position. The most notable case is Our Lady of the Pillar
School in Madrid, one of the centers run by the Marianist organization in
Spain. The school corrected its stance on the right of conscientious
objection by parents the very day that HO publicized the school's ranking.
Now it is one of 57 Spanish schools that do "not bind objectors".

Created last week by HazteOir.org, the website ranks schools according to
their attitude towards the new course. Schools that promote or at least
consider objections against the EcP are marked green. Schools that do not
bind objectors are marked yellow while those that violate the right of
conscientious objection are marked red.

Since the creation of the website, it has ranked dozens of institutions
throughout all of Spain, including Madrid, Toledo, Majadahonda, Valdemoro
and Huelva. Currently, nine expressly forbid parents to withdraw their
children from the course. The website encourages people to contact
HazteOir.org and participate in ranking their own school.