Archbishop Eamon Martin Catholic schools need to “review” their teachings on relationships and sexuality education, and evaluate the current support offered to students who are facing questions about their sexual identity, the Primate of All Ireland has said.
Speaking in Galway today at a conference entitled “Catholic Schools Supporting Families: Towards A Better Education of Children”, Armagh’s archbishop Eamon Martin said that young people must be treated with “compassion” and be helped to understand they are loved by God regardless of their sexual identity.
“The prevalence of sexual bullying and ostracisation can so easily leave them susceptible to feelings of rejection, distress, self-harm and risk-taking behaviours. This cannot be tolerated in any school, never mind a Catholic school which holds, as a core value, the dignity of every human person,” he said.
The archbishop added that many Catholic schools have already been sensitively offering support to pupils who are beginning to express same sex attraction or raising personal questions about their gender identity, and it is timely to “identify, develop and disseminate best practice in this area across all our Catholic schools”.
He stressed that the needs and views of parents should be fully considered in such a review, pointing out that resources and methods should be developed which reflect and enhance the characteristic spirit of a Catholic school.
“We want to understand where young people are on their journey. We care about where they are existentially; we are concerned about where is their soul; we want them to make responsible use of freedom, to have a sound morals and values framework and to develop healthy and life-giving relationships,” the archbishop said.