Solidarity and educational commitment

A few days ago was held in Córdoba the CXXX Ordinary Assembly of the Bishops of the South of Spain, which includes the dioceses of Seville, Almería, Cádiz and Ceuta, Córdoba, Guadix, Huelva, Jaén, Jerez y Málaga. Various themes addressed, from closeness to families in difficulties to the question of education. Many charity deeds in response to the crisis. During the Assembly the bishops dedicated an indepth reflection to the analysis of the social situation in the region of the South of Spain, with special focus on the social and charitable action of the Church, at a time of crisis such as the present one. The bishops follow up close, in their respective dioceses, the development of social-charitable activities carried out by various Church bodies such as parish and diocesan Caritas, charity initiatives of religious institutions, the social assistance given by the Fraternities and Confraternities and much more. The bishops are well aware that this social endeavour is due to Christian faith and to the generosity of many Catholics, citizens who offer their solidarity within their families and by giving economic support to Church institutions. Attached to a constitutional right. The bishops highlighted the importance of child education in the family and school environment, stressing parents’ rights and duties in this challenge along with their active participation in family and school associations. The prelates deemed it necessary to release a Pastoral Note on religious education in schools for an adequate dissemination in the dioceses of South of Spain. The document was published at the end of the Plenary Assembly. “The Andalusia government must respect the constitutional right of parents to educate their children according to their religious beliefs” the bishops wrote. In particular, the prelates referred to the intention of the local government to cut the teaching of religion in primary schools in the region from 90 to 45 weekly hours and the proposal of replacing those hours with a class on “social values”. A part of the population criticised the proposal and collected 430 signatures demanding the appropriate regulation of the teaching of religion in schools. In their support to the popular signature collection, the bishops of Andalusia pointed out that “in conformity with Article 27.3 of the Spanish Constitution, public authorities must guarantee the rights of parents to ensure that their children receive the religious and moral formation that best reflects their religious beliefs”. The bishop’s appeal is not to “infringe the constitutional rights granted to families and the agreements between Spain and the Holy See with the denial of quality religious formation, respectful of current legislation”. Teaching of religion indispensable in the educational process. “The teaching of Catholic religion in schools – goes on the bishops’ note – is demanded by 87% of parents at the level of primary education”. “Political leaders must take these figures into account”. At the same, the bishops of the South of Spain expressed their solidarity to 2700 teachers of religion who risk loosing their jobs “at such a difficult time for employment”. “Religious education – the prelates go on – is an indispensable dimension in child education and both parents and teachers must protect it and promote it”. Thus the bishops called upon institutions to open a dialogue “in a form that is respectful of the feeling of the majority of Andalusan parents and of parents’ rights”. Closeness to the archbishop of Granada. The bishops, who also followed the media campaign against the archbishop of Granada that developed over the past month, a campaign that – they said – didn’t refrain from resorting to slander and lies, conveyed their full communion and support to the archbishop of Granada, Monsignor Javier Martínez, and denounced this false, unjust information that cause so much damage to the people of God. The prelate was attacked by the media after the diffusion of an alleged case of sexual abuse on minors by some priests.