Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Nicku
Poll

Would you baptise your child to get them into a school?

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan has said that she is not comfortable with the concept.

THERE HAVE BEEN growing calls in recent months for the government to take action to open up more school options to non-religious families.

In Ireland, around 90% of schools continue to be run by the Catholic church, with a common complaint that families are having their children baptised for the purposes of later getting them into a school.

Last month, The Guardian carried a report about the difficulty accessing schools that some non-religious students face.

The newspaper spoke to the mother of a child who has had to return to nursery for another year after being unable to secure a school place.

Speaking on RTÉ’s The Ray D’Arcy Show earlier today, Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan, said:

I would think that would be something that people would not want to do. I certainly would not be comfortable with the idea that people would baptise their children just to get them into school.

But what do you think? Would you baptise your child to ensure it got a school place?


Poll Results:

Yes (5301)
No (4981)
Maybe (1044)

Read: Tell your auntie in Chicago! There’s a simple new way to trace your Irish roots

Also: Hozier has been explaining to Gay Byrne why he thinks baptism is ridiculous

Your Voice
Readers Comments
198
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.