Does this school receive state funding, if so it needs to immediately stop. The investigation into this vile discrimination has to be thorough. This reminds me of race discrimination in the deep south of America during the sixties. The response from the school is abhorrent. This girl not only has to deal with having a child but is being stigmatised for doing so as a lone parent.

To sum up the catholic religion in one word: hypocrisy.

No, this is about one man and it seems the facts are a bit sketchy. Exactly what type of school is it? It all seems very mysterious.

@ Dee Mac – since when is pregnancy a sickness or disease that you “fall” pregnant. You become pregnant as a result of sexual intercourse – not as a result of accident or sickness.

@ashling ! I did not in any way compare pregnancy to illness . I guess right in a sense she got pregnant by the man who impregnated her ! Sex is a natural experience . People make mistakes but should be allowed to have the opportunity to make the most of their lives and not be penalised for having sex . Because that is obviously the issue here. In the times we live in children are sexualised let’s face it the exposure they face on a daily basis on the internet media etc . I think we all make mistakes but we have to look at the bigger picture . This girl chose to have her baby a mature decision that many don’t when they have abortions. She is taking responsibility for her actions. I don’t condone underage sex or encourage it but look around !!

That’s just an expression, Aisling. I think you’re right, Dee Mac- getting pregnant at a young age shouldn’t be the end of moving forward with one’s life and working for a good future for yourself and your child. It could be so easy to just drop out of education and become discouraged. This treatment has nothing to do with a school being Catholic or otherwise. and, fortunately, I’d say this sort of lack of support and positivity is very unusual.

Dee Mac, you clearly think underage sex is ok just because everyone is doing it, it doesn’t work that way unfortunately, these people who engage in sex are clearly irresponsible people and certainly should not be given the responsibility of a child. Also, you make all these comments as if you’re so inclusive and willing to accept anyone despite their mistakes yet you make that comment about abortion. How dare you presume that those who have had abortions are just mindless bitches who float along in life without any morals, you’re as bigamist as everyone else, you think you’re amazing cos you support underage sex so long as they go through with the pregnancy, if you’re going to claim to be open-minded and accepting, then do it fully. And take responsibility for your actions, you got pregnant cos you had sex, it wasn’t an accident or something that came upon you just like that

I think that’s a bit judgemental, Kit Gurn. How do you know what Dee Mac’s circumstances were? I don’t agree with underage sex, but once the deed is done, a mother shouldn’t be penalised by having her baby taken away from her. And, given the stigma, it might be a very brave decision to resist the pressure to have an abortion. It isn’t good that young kids are having sex, but working hard to get a good education and creating a promising future for your child has to be admired. It is difficult for young people nowadays and jumping to categorise people because of some foolish actions isn’t very helpful.If we all had our faults written on our foreheads, none of us would be casting stones.

Thank you Maria I must say kit your aggression and charming use of name calling is un called for ! I agree I got pregnant because I chose to have sex when I was 17 and thought I was in a loving relation ship . That was my choice . And I live for my son and provide for him.I am open minded and if you view my comment below you would see I do not condone underage sex . But I am a realist and reality is that it exists whether or not it’s accepted by the general population or not. I believe that despite this girls flaws the fact that she had not lay down and covered her head in shame does not mean she should suffer for the rest of her life. The sigma of the stereotypical single mother is a hard one to stand apart from
And I commend her for trying. I believe that people have abortions for a multitude of reasons and I am believe that it is their choice I cannot judge anybody based upon their own circumstances just as nobody can judge me on mine.

Mmmm very christian of these people. Not!

Not illegal in “catholic” schools. You see, here in Ireland we have the law as it applies to the her citizens, then we have a different application of the same law as it applies to citizens that reside under the protectionist umbrella of that illustrious institution otherwise known as the Catholic church.

I would never have renounced my faith had I been aware that as a Catholic I could enjoy immunity from prosecution for discriminating against whomever I wished as long as the basis for my discrimination was justified by my membership of same. Who else in our society enjoys such freedom of expression. Apparently nobody, last I checked.

I think I’ll re-enlist so as I can properly enjoy the rest of my time on God’s green earth as a religious zealot/bigot, free to speak of unmarried mothers as commodities to be despised and cast out as opposed to being embraced and included.

Yes, thats just what we need. A school principal who happily fosters the notion that its A-OK to incorporate hate for others into the school ethos and curriculum.

‘religious’ schools (& hospitals) are legally exempt from equality discrimination law if they need it for their ethos.

So a school can (and has) fired employees that get pregnant if they want.

Totally agree “This girl should be applauded for wishing to carry on her education not treated like a pariah by a school who seems to believe they are answerable to no one.”

Helen, there are many countries that have denominational education. It’s not exclusive to Ireland.

catholic but not christian

Taking the case to it’s logical conclusion, this school – or any school claiming ‘Catholic’ ethos – will have to do a virginity test for each female wanting admission (and only female children will be tested) – and admit only those who are virgins.

It’s really quite heartening to read the comments in support of this young mother.

Something very similar to this happened to my sister about 15 yrs ago. My mother went down to the school and told them exactly what she thought of them.
Amazing to think that the same moronic mentality persists after all this time!!
A pox on them.

Anton…
I could not improve on your comment in any way.
Well done.
But when will Irish people/catholics cop on?

It’s ridiculous saying that this is an issue of Catholic Ireland.I don’t think the obnoxious behaviour and comments were in any way Catholic. This person’s response is mean, cruel and uncharitable and I’ve never heard any Catholic seeking to exclude a lone parent like that. It’s not typical of any group, in my experience.

Yea just like they struck when they provided free education for centuries, for the populace of this island, setting them up as the most educated people in Europe.

As opposed to the 4% of deviants who target a closed institution who have access to children and specifically target such institutions to join as they know it will suit their own destructive needs.

Yea, completely forget about the 95% of good they have done. People jump on any bandwagon for popularity and a cheer of approval.

So what about Muslim schools
The North Dublin Muslim School was opened in September 2001 with 3 classrooms and 3 teachers. The School is the second state-funded Muslim school in Dublin and Ireland. It has started as a response to the growing need of the Muslim community in Ireland.

What happens when they turn away someone who does not want to obey their religious doctrines and principles. That’s ok isn’t it, because we low self esteem Irish people are tripping over ourselves to appear as sophisticates, making sure we are the pillars of the new multicult church. (nevermind that MCism has been seen as mutilation of their countries wherever it has occurred)

Gary,

Should I ever have children I will gladly send them to a multicultural school so their minds escape the “mutilation” of closed-minded bigots such as yourself.

Exactly what I was thinking- why would the principle put this in writing? It would have been quite easy to give another excuse for refusal. The principal obviously wanted to make known his/her disapproval of the girls situation. What I find even more depressing is the fact that the principal must have believed that it was totally acceptable to reply to the family in this manner. I’m really tiring of these “Catholic ethos” cases.

Dennis
Please do not paint all Catholic schools with the same brush. The vast majority support any student who falls pregnant before leaving school and do all in their power to encourage them to continue with their education. This, in my experience, is true even of convent schools that in the bad old days would have washed their hands of responsibility towards girls in this situation, or worse, referred them to their colleagues in the laundries.
This school seems a shocking anachronism .I don’t think it’ll stay unidentified for much longer. For one thing, it’s highly unusual these days for one individual to be running a school without a board of management.

Jone,
I am not painting all Catholic schools with one brush. I went through primary and secondary Catholic education. My secondary school was a convent. There were girls in my year and other years who became pregnant and received great support from the staff. Now, I’m a primary school teacher and I am very well aware that there are a great number of wonderful Catholic schools out there, the overwhelming majority of them, in fact. Most of them thankfully put the ethos second (or even lower down in some schools), and the needs of the children first.

I simply feel that in a modern republic, State-funded schools should not subscribe to one particular religion, and they most certainly should not be allowed to use their chosen faith as a means to exclude. They should cater for the needs of all, not some. They receive money from taxpayers of all faiths and none, therefore they should admit the children of all.

It’s sickening to think about it, but I am almost certain that if Brown Thomas threw out a young single mother for being such a “harlot” and lowering the tone of the store, the rage would be much more universally felt. But, when religion comes into the equation, it’s alright.

If all State-funded schools were secular, this man in his role as principal could not have refused the girl in question an education. If he did, he would have been held fully accountable and would be the subject of a proper investigation. With the current situation, he gets to hide behind his “ethos” and is therefore virtually free from any punishment or penalty. As soon as this “ethos” system is gotten rid of, the final stumbling block to true equality in the Irish education system will be gone. All public schools would be run with the same basic principles. They would be funded by the State and accountable only to the State. The current system is neither fair nor inclusive. It causes division, labelling and in this case unjustified social stigmas.

This is nothing to do with a school’s ethos and everything to do with one man’s bigotry if the facts of the story are correct. Is this school a one man show as it seems strange in this day and age to have no board of management? Getting rid of religion in schools won’t rule out the odd bad apple popping up now and again.

You reported that this unnamed school was a ‘state school’. What is the source for this?

Hi Antoin,

Further information reveals that it’s unclear if the school is state-run or privately owned, so this information has been removed from the report until it can be or is clarified. Thanks for your comment.

Antoin,
What Ethos, other than a bigotted one would prevent a child from having an Education?

When Schools are Taxpayer Funded, they are the Service Providers and don’t get to dicate to Service Users.

More Importantly, What principle was served from denying the child an Education?

Sober analysis Councillor . However , pregnant schoolgirls is as old as prostitution , perhaps not as frequent . Parents ought to be educating their daughters to prevent the breeding at the price of a paw paw syndrome .

I disagree, Councillor. The central issue is, whether a taxpayer-funded school should be allowed to deny education to a pregnant/nursing young girl. Inserting nasty, discriminatory requirements into an “admission policy” while hiding behind the shield of “religious ethos” should not be allowed as a justification while that school operates on the public coin.

No young girl goes out to get pregnant (or hardly any do). But despite the best of information and warnings they receive, teenagers are sometimes foolish, impulsive and make rash decisions. Therefore, there have always been a tiny minority of teenage girls who get pregnant and there always will be. That a public representative should see denying such a girl her education as reasonable, even if it’s stated in some odious policy document, is regrettable.

Hi Mark, just to clarify – it’s now not clear if the school received state funding, so this information has been removed from the story until it can be or is clarified.

Thanks,
Emer

We know nothing about how this girl became pregnant. What if she was raped? Your comments are disgusting Paddy, comparing teenage pregnancy to prostitution AND stating that it’s the “daughters” that should be educated. Sure it’s always the whiley woman, that’s what the church tells us anyway.

Paddy Pereira
Your comment says more about your standards , than anyone else’s . It just shows what you think of women ……Prostitution ,no less ! Shame on you

Pregnant schoolgirls is most certainly not as old as prostitution. And even if it was, so what? Does pregnancy void the right to an education?

This isn’t in keeping with the tenets of christianity. It’s just meanness, bitterness and prejudice disguised as morals

Surely a girl who has a kid to raise needs educational qualifications more than most?

I’m afraid that argument goes nowhere Councillor. The Supreme Court itself has already given it’s approval to inequitous treatment of 16 year old boys and girls

@ Emer It was my understanding that the salaries of all teachers in secondary schools, by far the biggest expense involved, is paid by the department of education. I’m open to correction on that, but since it’s a secondary school I thought it safe to assume the salaries were paid by the state.

Not least because the Catholic faith venerates one particular single mother, and her son.

Hi P, have just put in some info regarding the management structure at the school. The ombudsman expressed concern that the school appears to have no Board of Management and a lack of managerial structure.

Some more info from the report:

4.13 In this particular school, the ‘Whole School Evaluation Report’ issued by the Department of Education and Science in 2007 indicates that there is no Board of Management in place nor are there plans for one. According to the Report, at that time the Principal of the school, was also the founder, owner and patron. It is stated that “the Principal appointed his son as manager of the school in 2006” and that the manager also has the position of school administrator. It appears that the former mentioned person subsequently appointed a principal and assumed the role of manager. He was the decision maker at all stages of this complaint and investigation. In response to the draft statement the former mentioned person advised that he never appointed his son as manager.

4.14 In this case the original decision to refuse enrolment was made by the former mentioned person in his role as principal. The second decision to refuse enrolment was also made by him in his role as manager. Given that the same person is owner, manager and patron, and that there is no Board of Management in place, this raises concerns regarding the structures in place to deal with a complaint and the potential that the matter will be handled and determined by the person who also made the original decision. Whilst informal complaints may be resolved by addressing the complaint directly with the individual concerned, if a matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the process should provide a mechanism whereby a formal complaint is addressed by a person(s), who were not involved in the original actions or decision. This is a well established principle of good complaint handling and fair administration.

Thanks, Emer

Wait … What’s the point of a whole school evaluation if nothing changes?! Why is the state paying salaries here if there is no board of management?! Sounds like this is a problem waiting tk explode for a long time.

Didn’t siobhainelita just post that she has experience of this happening in non Catholic schools? This is not a Catholic issue although the usual suspects are jumping on the anti-Catholic band wagon. I am Catholic and I would find this sort of behaviour abhorrent.

Hi Paraic,

the school is not named in the report from the Ombudsman’s office, and its understood that both the girl and her mother wish to remain anonymous.

Thanks, Emer

Am I right to understand that the school is named on this website and it also states that the school is privately owned? http://www.education.ie/insreports/report2_65241N.htm

Jesus would have ended up in an Industrial School if born in Ireland – where he would have been physically and sexually tortured Roman Catholic Church*. As it was he was born in Palestine where the Roman authorities physically tortured him. The Roman Catholic Church replaced the Roman Empire. Jesus’s mother would have been confined to a Magdalene Asylum for life. Her name would have been taken from her and she wouldd have passed all the length of her days in punishment, prayer and penal labour.

So how would the good Catholics feel if you had opted for an abortion in UK instead . The people running the school are idiots and should drop the pretence of being Christian or moral

I have a great idea, lets put this unwed mother in to the care of a Catholic Church run laundry, take the child of her and sell it via an adoption agency. We’ll get the mother working every hour that God sends, keep the cash for ourselves and beat the pulp out of her every day till she dies. Then we’ll bury her in an unmarked grave in our laundry.

That’s what a proper Irish Catholic would do.

In my opinion you are adding ‘legs’ to the story. Many schools are very unhappy to accept students who have left other schools prematurely. Boys schools do this as well as co-ed.
The problem is if all schools adopted this line many adolescents would be left behind when accepted by none, often through no fault of their own. The pregnancy presumable played into their fears. It is wrong but we simply don’t know the real reason why she wasn’t accepted and it’s incorrect to label it as religious.

What nonsense! The quotes from correspondence with the school that are included in te article make it patently obvious that they didn’t accept her because she is a single mother and the school has a Catholic ethos! This story doesn’t need to be given legs, it already has its own!

If it doesn’t cause further harm tithe girl the school should be named and shamed, if for nothing else then to at least to save other young girls from the same humiliation.

What’s sinful about being pregnant anyway!?

Very true!

Stunned ……

Is it just me or does the owner / principal / management sound like a teeny bit of a dictator or at least a control freak in that report?

Diego Attyley
You are a horrible individual ,to make such a comment like that . Call yourself ”Christian” , Horrible person.

I’m a horrible person for telling the truth? Climb down off your high horse and cop onto yourself.

Diego. Your letting yourself down.

Diego Attley
You would not say that comment in person …You should be ashamed of yourself. You are not christian .

@Fagan’s: LOL I think YOU’RE the one that should get a refund because you’re the one that has let yourself down.

@Susie: Why wouldn’t I? You know nothing about me but I can tell you that I’m not the type of person that heaps praise on failure.

So you think a young girl who falls pregnant has her baby and then tries to continue with her education (and subsequently does, elseawhere) is a failure . I will leave you with your conscience ! Shame on you .

Ok Diego, if you were the principle, what would you say?

I think schoolchildren having a baby is a failure. Can you explain how its not?

To fail means to try something and not succeed. What has she failed? She’s only just taken on a new challenge

And can you answer my question? If you were the Principal, what would you say?

Diego
I really think you need to be educated . :)

So Diego you never had sex in secondary school? If you’d knocked someone up accidentally in one of those fumbling encounters would you be a failure too? Or just her? Such misogyny disgusts me!

@Diego Attley

I hope you never have a baby daughter, because if you do, I pity her. Although I have a feeling that, by that stage you may have grown up a bit and understand things in life a bit better. I doubt very much if you’d have the same opinion/attitude if it was your own daughter. Don’t say it wouldn’t happen, because it could, no matter how much or how well you think you’ve reared her.

Diego,
I believe you are right, however you will take abuse on here from the same commenters who attack people rather than develop reasoned argument.

Child pregnancy is a total failure of society in its pursuit of liberalism, represented by notions like ‘girlpower’ from years ago.

Sometimes to have morals is the hardest place to be.

@diego and dub in naas
So just because there is a failure in society(as you see it) , it is ok to brand this girl and her baby ,and refuse her a chance to improve their lot with an education I believe it is you two who are failures and deserve a good education .

I have to laugh at the journal I really do. My comments were taken down when there was nothing wrong with them. The first were I asked whether or not see thinks she deserved a pat on the back for falling pregnant at 17, nothing wrong with that (but I can see how she would take offence). The second when I said I don’t take moral advise from a prostitute, does the journal support her illegal activities? Finally nothing happens about the comments attacking me personally (like water off a ducks back anyway), I’m starting to think that the only people that ever have their comments removed are those that don’t support a liberal agenda.

That has to be the worst website I’ve seen in years. Unbelievable.

That’s a minority view and a large number of citizens wouldn’t agree with you.

No way. This is not a compo situation. Makes me sick all this talk in society of bloody compo for this compo for that.

A civil action here would appear appropriate. Sadly we are not permitted to kick the crap out of religious bigots who clearly have no business running a school. I wonder what other forms of discrimination they espouse at what is clearly a shinning example of Catholicism in action.

A civil action here would appear appropriate. Sadly we are not permitted to kick the crap out of religious bigots who clearly have no business running a school. I wonder what other forms of discrimination they espouse at what is clearly a shinning example of Catholicism in all it’s glory.

Interesting……post one comment and get one free

Begrudgery, couldn’t agree more, how will a lump of cash make up for this poor girl being refused education, compo should only ever be to cover legitimate costs you’ve acrued!!

@ begrudgery Suing the school may get the girl back into the school and set a precedent for future cases. All suits are for monetary gain.

I meant to say all suits are not just for monetary gain

How do you know?

St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh according to provided links

Amen, if you’ll pardon the pun.

Well it’s clear from the school head responses that they put religion before education. They want to turn out ‘good’ little Catholic girls for ‘respectable’ men to marry.

Well in fairness that one side is from the ombudsman, who is impartial. All that does is highlight how far out of order the school was.

Part of that one side is from the OMbudsmans office … I believe the school should be named and shamed .

Open forum. Only obscenties get removed. If there is another side, the floor is open.

Actually we’re getting 3 sides. The young mother is quoted in the report, the school is extensively quoted as is the Ombudsman’s conclusions.

Nasty and uncalled for .

She shouldn’t have to!

This is very true and fair play to her
For standing up to them

But I’d never want my kid to go to a school like this. Even if they came back crawling and apologizing.

I can only assume the the thumbs disagree that it’s not shocking lol

“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”. Or should that be reclassified as some sort of moral decadence?

They won’t Sid cause them issues are too broad, expansive and important, why try and tackle the major areas that need improvement when they can take on this nice handy high profile case of ‘discrimination’ …. Pathetic

There would be no need for the ombudsman to become involed if a bigot was not running this school..Lastly this person has no right to use Catholic Ethos as a camoflage for their own twisted “values”.

Where is the father of the baby in all of this , did he have to face such censure ?

@Diego, I’m louise’s brother and I would really love it if you could say that to my face rather than slipping it in behind a keyboard.
Big man you are condemning teenage girls who’ve made mistakes early on in life.
I’d love to know how many teenage boys have been denied an education because of a combination of the facts that they’ve gotten a girl pregnant and their schools are run by the catholic church’s answer to the Taliban.
If every bloke who’d had sex with a girl before 18 were to be chucked outta school because of it . . . . . .well you see where I’m comin from.
Don’t be so quick to judge, it makes you sound a little foolish.

@ Stephen well said. Try not to let the voice of ignorance get to you.

Fully agree Sid.

I think that this behaviour is immoral and should not be supported. In fact fully agree that by letting this girl mix with other underage girls, they could become “confused” and end up having their own moral compass skewed by this girl in spite of coming from good catholic families.

To be honest I think that the presence of these girls in society is a danger as it could give the rest of society bad ideas about having sex before marraige. I would say unprotected sex but lets face it that is a sin also.

A far better idea would be to group all these immoral wenches into one area under the protection of those who are so pure they cannot be corrupted – say the nuns for example. In addition, and in order to give the child a fair chance in life, why don’t they take the children off these women and give them to good loving people who cannot have kids themselves.

In fact, to cover the cost and inconvenience of housing these immoral people why don’t we ask the good loving people to donate some money when taking the children in order to assist in covering the cost of maintaining and “rehabilitating” these bad and evil women. As well, we should put the women themselves to work for less than minimum wage to cover these costs also.

If that is not acceptable to you, I suppose we could just go ahead and shoot these people after taking their kids off them…

After all that would be the CHRISTIAN thing to do.

Just curious but did you actually read the article? The reason that I ask is that the school, a catholic school turned down a child in need. That is 100% wrong. A pregnant child is still a child and needs help and guidance not repulsion and ignorance.

The second point here is as a recipient of public monies they need to demonstrate accountability and even courtesy which seems missing in the quoted correspondence. If they are unable to unwilling then they should be closed down.

Anne the mere fact that there is a “case” as you put it ,demonstrates that there is something seriously wrong with the way people think in our society. Ethos is a fancy window dressing word for downright bigotry and backwardness of our education system.
Another good example why we need to secularize our political system.

Well if your happy for them to persue a policy of open apartheid, paid for with your taxes, well I suppose their is no reason to change said policy.

@Anne if the policy is wrong then why should it be defended as opposed to the wronged party?

@racelover let hope you or your loved ones are never discriminated or socially excluded. Anybody can make a mistake . That young girl and her family could have easily given up because of the situation that presented itself. Buy they obviously felt she deserved an education just as much as any teenager . By doing this she is also trying to be a good role model to her child and opening up better opportunities for her family . What alternative would you suggest ??

We have no clue as to the full situation of this girl. If we knew she had been raped and later gave birth, would you still feel the school were right to deny her an education because of some old men’s appalling interpretation of rules invited by a supposed guy in the sky?

Do you include victims of rape and incest who fall pregnant in that category? I take it you want them to carry their rapists baby rather than have an abortion?

@racelover….much of the blame of underage pregnancy can be laid at the lack of quality sex education in schools!!

@DeeMac

I think Race Lover was giving her a few alternaives in his book!

1. Stay at home and feel society is to blame for her pregnancy and collect on loan parents and be given cheques to purchase the pram, cot, etc.

2. Go to the U.K. and have an abortion, just like that. She has no soul or heart so she’ll be ok! (my understanding of Race Lover’s thoughts)

3. Take her own life.

To me her parents and herself are choosing the best option. Agree that this huge error has been made, deal with it and live. Get her educated and hopefully a job. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody unless you’re Mr. Perfect or Ms. Perfect!

This country has legislation regarding the treatment of its citizens. First and foremost is the right to free education for all and second is equality legislation which specifically states that you cannot discriminate based on family status. This is not a catholic country, lots of people in it are catholic. Those are two very different things. I went to a catholic school and was taught to treat others as I would like to be treated, this man is obviously and deplorably ignoring that core prinicple of christianity.

Why was my comment about “the school having to set an example” removed? Are comment’s only allowed up if they agree that the school are wrong? I wouldn’t want my daughter exposed to this drama while sitting for her leaving cert and why should she have to suffer for others mistakes? And yes, it was a mistake as the girl is a child and underage.

@racelover Troll much?

@Brendan Walsh

Your comment was more about the character of young girls like the one mentioned in the story, and was deemed to be inappropriate.

Thanks, Emer

Dear Race Lover,
If you wish to follow a catholic ethos, try compassion and understanding! Try kindness and decency. What ever happened to help people? The example to young people you set is to ignore what you don’t want to deal with and forget those who will let you forget them. That girl needs an education as much, if not more, than anyone else in that school. An education that the state and it’s people pay for. It’s disgusting treatment and I’m embarrassed that you would call it “catholic”.

Oh for goodness sake Race Lover ….What century are you in ? This happens , and the child should not be discriminated against . I am curious tho about the father of the baby ! Was he a lad of the same age or older ? Was he discriminated against at school ,or did he have to ”own” up to the school authorities in the same way that this young lady was obliged to

Racelover would you repeat that comment in your local or workplace ?somehow i don’t think so.

@Race lover, we are not a catholic country, we are a country that contains alot of Catholics, important distinction there!!

Susie, don’t worry about the father. Regardless of whether he’s her age, younger or older, who initiated sex or anything else – in the eyes of the state he’s a sex offender and had better keep his head down if he doesn’t want to go to jail

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0326/court.html

So while the girl has been treated abominably by some hateful individual at this school, the state itself is discriminating against the father

I agree with you and I was just making the point at the unfairness of the situation for all concerned … This girl should get help and like you said the father will have to keep his head down (Bearing in mind that it was all above board and consensual) for his own sake …. A sad state of affairs .

No we do not live in a Catholic country we live in a republic.

A misguided view indeed race lover. Surely , the fact that this young mother was making an effort to educate herself and to have a better life for herself and her child should be seen as an example to other teens.

I agree with @Racelover and @Brendan.

The child is 16 and pregnant ! And everyone finds that ok ??

What moral compass was she working to ? Of the school has an ethos then it does. I admire the manager/principal for stating that view and support him in having to defend his position in the face of such liberal hostility.

What is Ireland becoming ?

So she’s not entitled to an education because she made a mistake at the age of 16? Are you the same kind of person who complains about single mothers living on state “handouts”? What possible hope for a brighter future can she or her child have without an education?

A catholic country, is it really? I wonder, is the idea based on history or the current situation. What makes someone a catholic anyway, just saying you are? You often hear the term “practicing catholic”, surely if you don’t practice you shouldn’t be regarded as a catholic? If this is the case then the true figures for catholics in Ireland would be based on something like attendance at mass. In which case Ireland is probably not a very catholic country at all.

I cannot understand why contributors here are okay with the fact that an underage girl is pregnant, no word of censure for having underage sex regardless of the outcome, reckless disregard for the possibility of pregnancy, (she “fell” pregnant as if it were everybody else’s fault) just the usual rush to bash and batter the Catholic church. And why did the girl leave two other schools to insist on attending this school? Obviously the school must be doing something right and I would sooner attend a school that stands up for its rules
than those where anything goes.

This is not a Catholic country.

Offically the state is secular. The majority of Irish “Catholics” do not agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position on sex, and instead are mostly prodestant.

The girl might get away with excuse of being young and possibly folish,what excuse can the principle offer for being a bigot?

The girl made a mistake and needs help and support to get back on track with her life. Any Catholic who thinks she should be thrown on the dump heap or not allowed mix with other “good” girls should question what brand of Catholicism they’re buying into. Is that the approach Jesus would have? From my memory his view revolved around love and forgiveness, not cruelty and castigation. If kids can’t deal with the fact that girls get pregnant, maybe they should come out from behind the school walls and get a taste of life in the real world. As Catholics, we can’t stand apart on our ivory towers. We’re all capable of doing wrong. As a person who’s against abortion, I’d be all in favour of any initiatives which support young mothers rather than making them feel that they’ll be rejected and stigmatised. I also find Trueleft’s term- the rapist’s baby, to be offensive. Recent stats showed that many women who become pregnant through rape keep their babies and this is a cruel and heartless way to refer to their children. The sins of the father should not be visited on the sons.

A judgemental approach sets no example either! Luckily enough we are a republic, not a fundamentalist catholic state, and so the intolerant unchristian opinions of others have no bearing whatsoever, as this young person has her own rights as a citizen of this state. I am sure she will be a brilliant mother and do great things. The judgemental approach of the very few and lack of love and compassion seem to be in direct opposition to the faith they say they uphold. I would say the young woman in question may well have the moral high ground over some of the commentators on this site who cast the first stone – how does it go again? “The greatest of these is love” – something like that…