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English primary school ordered to change admissions policy that favored Mass-going families

July 25, 2014

A Catholic primary school in England has been ordered by government officials to alter its admissions policies, which had given preference to the children of families that attended Mass regularly.

St. Joseph School in Epsom states that as a matter of policy, because it serves the local parish, its admissions criteria assess “the strength of evidence of practice of the faith as demonstrated by the level of the family's Mass attendance on Sundays." The Office of Schools Adjudicators ruled that this policy is discriminatory because preference “arises from requiring attendance at the church rather than residency in the parish."

 


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  • Posted by: - Jul. 26, 2014 12:48 PM ET USA

    The Catholic church in the U.K. might consider the idea of accepting "less government aid" in exchange for freedom in setting up rules for attendance in its Catholic schools.

  • Posted by: Minnesota Mary - Jul. 25, 2014 7:32 PM ET USA

    Is this school getting government monies? "Eat my bread sing my song."