CES Monitoring Bulletin 21.08.06

The main story this week has been the media’s reaction to a CES press statement regarding collective worship for over 16s.

A number of newspapers picked up on the BBC News Online story 'Shared worship has to continue'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4794993.stm 

TES ‘Catholic call to prayer’ (18 August)

A very short piece: ‘The Roman Catholic church this week urged the Government to reconsider its decision to allow 16-year-olds to opt out of religious worship in schools.  It followed a pledge by ministers to amend the 60-year-old laws governing school prayers.  Oona Stannard, chief executive of the Catholic Education Service said: “Prayer, reflection and contemplation provide the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of modern day living”’.

The Tablet ‘Collective worship must stay, says CES’ (19 August)

Mostly uses the CES press release but contains a comment from the DfES: ‘“It seems right that over-16s should make for themselves the decision as to whether to engage in collective worship, and we will bring forward an appropriate amendment in the House of Lords”.  The amendment is expected to become legally binding within the next 12 months.’

Catholic Herald ‘Bishops challenge students’ right to opt out of worship’ (20 August)

Again, this mostly uses the CES press release and also highlights that the amendment originated with the National Secular Society.

• CES Chief Executive Oona Stannard featured in a discussion on Radio 4’s The Sunday Programme regarding collective worship, and CES Religious Education Adviser Fr. Joseph Quigley did interviews for BBC local radio Sunday morning faith programmes and BBC Radio Wales (all broadcast 20 August).

• The CES will now focus on pressing for appropriate safeguards in order to ensure that students a) understand the seriousness of the decision they are making and b) are provided with suitable alternative activities if they choose to opt out.