The Catholic primary school where 90 per cent of the pupils are Muslim

Geist · #1 Jul 16, '12, 2:59 pm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ls-Muslim.html

Quote:

It was built in the 1930s to cater for large numbers of Irish families moving to the area.

Now, in a sign of changing times, a Catholic primary school in Birmingham has an intake that is 90 per cent Muslim.

All pupils at the Rosary Catholic Primary attend Catholic assemblies in the morning and Mass at the nearby church, while crucifixes and statues of the Virgin Mary line the corridors.

But only around 40 pupils out of 400 are Catholics – most of the rest are Muslims of Pakistani origin.

The school is among a few dozen Catholic primaries, mainly in the Midlands and North West, where churchgoing children are now outnumbered by Muslims.

At Rosary, in the Saltley area of Birmingham, some of the pupils’ parents are imams and some live in nearby mosques.

Father Bernard Kelly, the local parish priest and Rosary’s chairman of governors, said: ‘This is a changing parish like all parishes in strong Muslim neighbourhoods.

‘Our school is largely made up of Muslim children whose parents are happy to have them attend a Christian school. For the church, this is a new reality.

‘At school, the pupils hear about the teachings of Jesus but they are not imposed on them.’

He added: ‘I’m sure we will be here in another 80 years’ time. Why not?’

80 years? Seriously? I'd be amazed if they manage eight before its converted (at least officially) into a madrasah.

dzheremi · #2 Jul 16, '12, 4:55 pm

It already is a madrassa. Madrassa just means school.

SaintPatrick333 · #3 Jul 16, '12, 5:08 pm

Why is this ok? Why do we simply stand by and watch something like this happen? The reason people go to "Catholic" school is so that they can receive a "Catholic" education and live a "Catholic" life. If their are muslim students who wish to attend who have no desire to be Catholic then let them attend public school and that be the end of it. Catholic schools aren't just for teaching a higher standard of education, its for instilling the Catholic values Christ wants all of His children to live by.

Trebor135 · #4 Jul 16, '12, 5:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaintPatrick333

Why is this ok? Why do we simply stand by and watch something like this happen? The reason people go to "Catholic" school is so that they can receive a "Catholic" education and live a "Catholic" life. If their are muslim students who wish to attend who have no desire to be Catholic then let them attend public school and that be the end of it. Catholic schools aren't just for teaching a higher standard of education, its for instilling the Catholic values Christ wants all of His children to live by.

It may do these Muslim kids a lot of good to be in a Catholic environment. Anti-Christian prejudice they hear at home and the mosque will be debunked straight away by their experience with real people of that faith. Plus, they'll be exposed--probably in a subtle way, given the atmosphere in Britain--to the best that Western civilization can offer and which is now dying. A few may even be drawn to convert under the right circumstances; the story of Talat Strokirk (see show #155 here for her interview on the Journey Home) comes to mind.

dzheremi · #5 Jul 16, '12, 5:37 pm

Also Magdi Allam, the Egyptian-Italian journalist, was sent to Catholic schools from an early age. He is now a very high-profile convert to Catholicism from Islam.

One thing that should be understood is that for the Muslims, religious-based education will always be preferred to secular public education. In a manner similar to how Muslims can eat kosher if they can't get halal food (not a problem in today's Britain, from what I understand), they can also go to Catholic schools if they cannot go to Islamic ones. It is, as Muslims I know have told me, not so much a matter of fraternizing other religions, but because the Catholic schools (in places like Malaysia, Indonesia, and just about everywhere else where they exist in the Muslim world) have very high standards relative to the Islamic ones, where kids will get a more rounded education, and also where they know that their religious convictions vis-a-vis dietary restrictions and daily prayer requirements are far more likely to be honored than they would in a secular school, where pupils may not be allowed to pray at all.

Given this reality, I don't think it's really fair to ask "How could we let all these Muslims into OUR schools?" It makes more sense to ask "How could we allow the other schools (non-Catholic school) and a number of our own schools to teach every secular argument as gospel in place of the ACTUAL Gospel?", or maybe even "Why are we losing Catholic attendance at these schools, while they fill with Muslims? Why don't we make them more attractive to Catholics, and even non-Catholic Christians?" I have known many Orthodox, including Copts, Ethiopian Tewahedo, and Syriac Indians, who went through Catholic education at certain points in their lives, and all have much better feelings towards the Catholic Church as a result. It all depends on how seriously you take this whole "being Christian" thing. If it doesn't include educating your kids (and you can always do your part to educated them at the parish level in the distinctive doctrines of your church, if you are not Roman Catholic), then you're pretty much screwed and probably shouldn't be blaming your failures or laziness on Muslims who actually care about making sure their children are educated in a religious environment, and not destroyed by secularism.

catholicanne · #6 Jul 17, '12, 5:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzheremi

Also Magdi Allam, the Egyptian-Italian journalist, was sent to Catholic schools from an early age. He is now a very high-profile convert to Catholicism from Islam.

One thing that should be understood is that for the Muslims, religious-based education will always be preferred to secular public education. In a manner similar to how Muslims can eat kosher if they can't get halal food (not a problem in today's Britain, from what I understand), they can also go to Catholic schools if they cannot go to Islamic ones. It is, as Muslims I know have told me, not so much a matter of fraternizing other religions, but because the Catholic schools (in places like Malaysia, Indonesia, and just about everywhere else where they exist in the Muslim world) have very high standards relative to the Islamic ones, where kids will get a more rounded education, and also where they know that their religious convictions vis-a-vis dietary restrictions and daily prayer requirements are far more likely to be honored than they would in a secular school, where pupils may not be allowed to pray at all.

Given this reality, I don't think it's really fair to ask "How could we let all these Muslims into OUR schools?" It makes more sense to ask "How could we allow the other schools (non-Catholic school) and a number of our own schools to teach every secular argument as gospel in place of the ACTUAL Gospel?", or maybe even "Why are we losing Catholic attendance at these schools, while they fill with Muslims? Why don't we make them more attractive to Catholics, and even non-Catholic Christians?" I have known many Orthodox, including Copts, Ethiopian Tewahedo, and Syriac Indians, who went through Catholic education at certain points in their lives, and all have much better feelings towards the Catholic Church as a result. It all depends on how seriously you take this whole "being Christian" thing. If it doesn't include educating your kids (and you can always do your part to educated them at the parish level in the distinctive doctrines of your church, if you are not Roman Catholic), then you're pretty much screwed and probably shouldn't be blaming your failures or laziness on Muslims who actually care about making sure their children are educated in a religious environment, and not destroyed by secularism.

Well said.

ringil · #7 Jul 17, '12, 8:11 am

I can't see why folks would have a problem with this.

**JimG** · #8 Jul 17, '12, 10:22 am

Interesting that in a Catholic school with 90% Muslim students, the HHS mandate will require the school to provide employees with no-copay coverage of contraception, sterilization, and morning after pill! None of those things are acceptable to either Catholics or Muslims.

dzheremi · #9 Jul 17, '12, 10:27 am

The schools in the article linked in the OP are in the United Kingdom, Jim. A piece of American legislation has no effect at all on how they are run.

**JimG** · #10 Jul 17, '12, 10:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzheremi

The schools in the article linked in the OP are in the United Kingdom, Jim. A piece of American legislation has no effect at all on how they are run.

Oh sorry! I was picturing a Catholic-Muslim school in the U.S.!

JaMc · #11 Jul 17, '12, 10:52 am

Personally, I don't have a problem with it, SO LONG AS the Muslim students and their parents realize they are going to a CATHOLIC school, and do not start demanding that the school water down its Catholic identity to accomodate their Muslim beliefs.

Visions of students and faculty at "Catholic" schools and universities in the U.S. and Canada complaining and protesting about attempts by the school to espouse Catholic teaching on abortion and homosexuality come to mind....

paperwight66 · #12 Jul 17, '12, 12:01 pm

The other point is, at least the Catholic school is being kept open. Because the places are filled, a Catholic education is being provided for the few Catholic children who are there.

Who knows, perhaps in a few years time there will be another shift in population distribution. Catholic familes might move back into the area and there will still be a school for them.

DaddyGirl · #13 Jul 17, '12, 12:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaintPatrick333

Why is this ok? Why do we simply stand by and watch something like this happen? The reason people go to "Catholic" school is so that they can receive a "Catholic" education and live a "Catholic" life. If their are muslim students who wish to attend who have no desire to be Catholic then let them attend public school and that be the end of it. Catholic schools aren't just for teaching a higher standard of education, its for instilling the Catholic values Christ wants all of His children to live by.

It looks as tho the school would close down for lack of students, if not for the local Muslim kids attending.

So weird.
Why would the Muslim parents not mind their kids learning a different religion than their own? It must be a bit confusing for the kids.

Unless...this is part of a new "open-ness" about religion...for kids to learn about all different kinds? In that case, I think it could be very healthy and revolutionary.