WELLINGTON The head of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office is calling for religion to be an academic subject in all state schools. NZCEO chief executive Br Pat Lynch, FSC, told a National Radio programme broadcast on March 14 that it is vital New Zealanders know about religion so they can participate in the wider world.
The Insight show was looking at whether religious studies should be included in the primary school curriculum.
By law, state primary schools must be secular, but study of religions can happen, as long as students are taught about beliefs, not what they should believe.
Specific religious instruction and observance can only happen when those schools are officially closed before or after school or at lunchtime and children must be able to opt out.
Bible study happens in about 30 to 40 per cent of state primary schools where boards of trustees allow it.
Br Lynch told NZ Catholic integrated schools have legal rights to teach religious instruction and observance according to their special character.
State secondary schools have no legal requirement to be secular. But a Human Rights Commission paper states religious instruction or observance in those schools must be non-discriminatory by law.
Religious studies is an NCEA unit standards and achievement standards option for students in years 11 to 13 in secondary schools, including Catholic ones.
Br Lynch said in a world of globalisation and interdependence, it is important that young New Zealanders have a good understanding of the belief systems of [those] different from themselves.
Tolerance and understanding can only grow from such learning, he said, adding that nations will grow in harmony and interdependence only when they gain a greater understanding and appreciation of each others differences.
I think religion should be taught in all of our state schools for its own sake as an academic subject.
In Catholic schools, senior religious studies courses have a comparative religion section, he said.
If New Zealand is going to play its part in the world, students leaving school must be open to and respectful of others and be proactive in getting on with those of other belief systems, Br Lynch said.
Victoria Universitys Paul Morris, a professor of religious studies, told National Radio that knowing about religions would prepare young people to live in an increasingly diverse 21st-century New Zealand.
As one example of apparent religious ignorance in this country, New Zealand Cricket earlier this year apologised after food containing pork was served to Muslims in a touring Afghanistan team.