Just ran across this piece in the Toronto Star gauging reactions to the Pope’s address to the Ontario bishops on their ad limina visit last week.
Donna Marie Kennedy, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, says students in the separate school system are taught Catholic values as part of the curriculum, but are not graded on their level of adherence to papal edicts.
"How can I judge someone else’s faith journey?" she asked. "That’s a personal relationship."
As a publicly funded system, she said, the schools also teach the same curriculum as public schools.
The Toronto Catholic school board was not available for comment.
A Ministry of Education statement noted "the government may not interfere with the denominational aspects" of Catholic schools.
Benedict also returned to a theme he stressed with the other Canadian bishops, calling for greater "evangelism" in the church to make religion a bigger part of everyday life in Canada and the culture of the country.
Catholic schools, in his view, were key to this effort.
"Within the context of the evangelization of culture, I wish to mention the fine network of Catholic schools at the heart of ecclesial life in your province," he said. "I thank and encourage those many lay men and women … who strive to ensure that your young people become daily more appreciative of the gift of faith."
Kennedy said she doubted the Pope’s comments would lead teachers to infuse more theology into their lessons.
"As a teacher, I don’t dispense theological advice."
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