The German Bishops’ Conference has issued a statement on the proposal of the Senate in Berlin to insert education in values as a compulsory subject for all students in the school curriculum. The bishops say they are following these developments “with apprehension”. In their view, they would have the effect of “spelling the end of religious education in schools”. The attitude behind the proposal is called “an error” by the bishops, “especially in consideration of the need for people with different religious and ideological convictions to live peacefully together”. “Religious education in school is a subject recognized throughout the State, and appreciated by parents and students. No one seriously contests that it forms part of the educational task of schools to tackle religious and ethical questions”, argue the bishops. This goes not only for the Christian faith, but also for the other religions. The Christian message can only be taught in a convincing way by those who share its essence”. “It is to be feared continues the communiqué “that in this new compulsory subject children will be informed in a non-committal way about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and other religions, and that values will be discussed in a general way. This the bishops stress runs counter to the seriousness with which religious and ethical education ought to be taught in schools”.
