Ireland: ensuring the right to Catholic education According to Msgr. Donald McKeown, auxiliary bishop of Down and Connor, president of the Commission for Catholic Education of Northern Ireland, “the ongoing debate on denominational education” in Ireland “must acknowledge parents’ fundamental right to choose faith-based education for their children”. “This key principle, which recognizes the right of parents, is guaranteed by the European Convention for Human Rights,” Bishop McKeown said. “It is also the hallmark of a stable and pluralist society, such as exists in Ireland and Britain, and which finds expression in the provision of state-funded faith-based schools.” Msgr. McKeown pointed out that parents who choose faith-based schools for their children “pay taxes”. “The Catholic Church has also contributed substantial funding and resources for the provision of Catholic schools over generations, and this has ultimately saved the taxpayer money,” he said. “Long experience across this island, North and South, shows that Catholic schools are committed to welcoming pupils of all backgrounds and to building a cohesive society in the service of the common good,” Bishop McKeown said. The Commission for Catholic education of Northern Ireland (NICCE) represents the administrators of all primary and secondary Catholic schools in the Country. Ukraine: bioethics course at the Catholic University “Today the progress of science and biotechnology is often rapid and shocking”, but “we mustn’t be afraid”. “If it reveals the truth, science is the gift of God”. Moreover, “it’s important that its discoveries and acquisitions do not question the value of human life which they are called to defend and sustain”, said the dean of the Ukrainian Catholic University father Borys Gudziak, who announced that the Atheneum is due to launch a bioethics academic program. The training program “is funded by the Medical Department of Mac Hill University (Canada)”, said the director of the program Ihor Boiko. Infertility in marriage and ethical claims on auxiliary reproductive technologies, surrogate motherhood, ovocites donation, cryopreservation of human embryos, the use of embryo stem cells, prenatal diagnosis and euthanasia are themes that will be developed by the participants in the program. “The Holy Scriptures tell us that Jesus died on the cross for us and thus helped us grasp the meaning of life. Also Apostle Paul confirms that we were bought at a price” admonished the bishop Benedict of Lviv (Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church). “We are sure – continues the prelate – that this training program will help understand even more the value of human life which we take for granted and which we start to appreciate only in case of disease or difficulty”. The tasks of the students, he concludes, will be “not only that of understanding life, but also teaching others to understand it and appreciate it”. A year of training with lessons three times a week, held by experts from Ukraine and from Western Europe, in order to teach doctors, bioethicists, priests and lawyers to respond to questions on sudden deaths, and also inform and provide assistance to terminal patients and to their families. Germany: a Sabbatical year to study theology A Sabbatical year: this is the academic offer of the University of Erfurt, presented a few days ago, which enables all those interested to spend some time at the faculty of Catholic theology. Those who want to adhere can dedicate themselves to research and refresh studies in theological and philosophic subjects with spiritual guidance. In fact, it is possible to take part in the life inside the convents or receive tailored spiritual support provided by the professors of the faculty, by the Orsoline nuns of the Erfurt convent or by the clergy of the diocese. Participants in the initiative can also register as auditors. In this way it will be possible to attend all the courses of the Catholic theology faculty. In order to enable those experiencing the Sabbatical year to gain easy access to the services offered by the university, the faculty organized guided tours at the campus, at the university library and research centres in the Erfurt e Gotha buildings whilst promoting participants’ creation of a cultural program in the city and in the cultural sites of Turingia.
