The Catholic Church in Scotland has criticised the Scottish Greens, who they say are seeking the removal of Catholic schools from the education system.

In an unprecedented move, Scotland’s Catholic bishops issued a strongly-worded statement about comments made by the Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman this week in her amendment to the Religious Education/Religious Observance Bill currently going through parliament.

The Catholic Church believes that the Bill is specifically intended to undermine Catholic schools. Sources close to the Bishops Conference of Scotland believe the pupil opt-out clause embedded in the Bill is a stealth attack. Ms Chapman sits on Holyrood’s Education, Children and Young People committee. In an exchange with the Labour MSP, Paul O’Kane during Tuesday’s debate, she said: “Religious observance are acts of worship, especially when one faith is prioritised over another. These should have no place in state schools. The Scottish Green position is quite clear: there should be separation of church and state.”

The Catholic Church says these comments are a clear threat to the existence of Catholic schools which make up the overwhelming majority of faith schools in Scotland. A spokesperson for the Catholic Church said: “There is an intrinsic link between Religious Education and Religious Observance in Catholic schools. Religious Education gives knowledge of faith, while Religious Observance is the living expression. One without the other risks empty ritual or solely ‘head’ knowledge.

A spokesperson for the Catholic Church said: “There is an intrinsic link between Religious Education and Religious Observance in........

© Herald Scotland