Courtney McGrailDublin was the setting for a major conference on faith schools and their continuing relevance, organised by The Irish Catholic and St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Over 200 stakeholders in faith schools together with educators gathered for a series of presentations from a panel of high profile speakers drawn from Ireland Britain.
Among those speaking on the day were Francis Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s Univeristy, Twickenham, and his colleague, the Rt Honourable Ruth Kelly, Britain’s former Secretary of State for Education. Prof. Daire Keogh represented St Patrick’s College Drumcondra.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin provided the day’s opening address, setting the tone for the theme of ‘The future of faith-based schools in a pluralist society’ when he stressed that “a closed, ghetto faith-based school would betray the very nature of education…If a faith school is to win acceptance in today’s society, it must convincingly show that it offers a true vision of education and show how this vision is beneficial to society.”
Thoughts and perspectives were not confined solely to the panel, however, and numerous audience members proved only too willing to participate from the floor during two Q&A sessions over the course of the day, leading to what one delegate was pleased to describe as “a diverse range of viewpoints”.
The conference on ‘The future of faith-based schools in a pluralist society’ can be viewed at
www.icatholic.ie
Full CD recordings of the day can be purchased from eist@eircom.net, tel. 087 2789390.
Issues raised led not alone to spontaneous rounds of applause but to subsequent challenges from those who displayed strong support for faith schools. “It gives people great strength to hear other people’s experiences from around Ireland and Northern Ireland as well,” one audience member told this newspaper after the conference.
Delegates were united in praise for the “quality and depth” of the speakers, not least for the rousing defence of Catholic education mounted by Francis Campbell, who pointed out that faith-based education serves as a bulwark to society and, from proven examples, a brake on radicalisation at a time when society is challenged by this phenomenon.
Beyond education, unanimous praise from the floor was directed to Baroness Nuala O’Loan for her continuing role as a social commentator unafraid to declare her faith and to defend it. In one of the day’s lighter moments, a brief debate broke out among audience members as to whether Baroness O’Loan would best serve as President of Ireland or this country’s Minister for Education.
Nor did the Baroness disappoint when, in her address, she further defended the role of Catholic schools.
In related articles, The Irish Catholic offers edited versions of the presentations made by all of the conference speakers.