Attack on Scottish Catholic Schools

Background briefing.

From CFNews: The leader of a Scottish teachers' union has condemned a longstanding policy that allows the Catholic Church to control the appointment of teachers for parochial schools. Peter Quigley, the president of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said that the Catholic veto is inherently discriminatory, and 'restricts the majority of teacher from competing for posts in the denominational sector.' Scotland's 'denominational schools' were set up to educate the country's Catholic minority. Although the schools are under the government's control, existing legislation gives Church leaders the right to block appointment of teachers who are deemed unfit. In practice, the Church's veto power has very limited scope. In March of this year, a self-proclaimed atheist won a discrimination lawsuit after he was refused appointment to a post as guidance counselor at a denominational (Catholic) school in Glasgow.