Girl refused school place because of pregnancy, being single

[AiliailiA]

They might have to build a new school though, or buy the existing buildings. Up-front costs there.

Assuming the churches actually paid for those, and are not merely using them.

It's the Catholic church. They ain't renters.

Having discovered that abortion is illegal in Ireland, and that a secular education is available only in the cities, I'm re-assessing the idea that Ireland is actually part of the Western World. But for the fact they speak English (grudgingly) I'm starting to think they're like the Christian equivalent of Yemen.

How about we invade them and build a 14-story Brothel and Aborticeum in downtown Dublin?

[The Alma Mater]

read most of the thread, my simple two cents is simply it is a private entity and thus can make a reject as to anyone.

Except it is not a private entity - it is almost completely state funded.
In addition, private entities in general also have to obey the law.

[Sanctaria]

Assuming the churches actually paid for those, and are not merely using them.

It's the Catholic church. They ain't renters.

Having discovered that abortion is illegal in Ireland, and that a secular education is available only in the cities, I'm re-assessing the idea that Ireland is actually part of the Western World. But for the fact they speak English (grudgingly) I'm starting to think they're like the Christian equivalent of Yemen.

How about we invade them and build a 14-story Brothel and Aborticeum in downtown Dublin?

Ah we're not that bad.

We closed our Embassy with the Vatican and our Prime Minister accused the Holy See of interfering with the Irish judicial and criminal investigatory system.

We're also looking into passing a law making it a criminal offence for a priest not to break confession if it's about the sexual abuse of a child. The government is looking into legislating for abortion in certain circumstances (it's forbidden in most circumstances by out Constitution).

We only legalised divorce like 16 years ago. We're still pretty socially conservative

[Ifreann]

Stone the harlot.

She wants to attend a religious institution even though she is/was pregnant and single?

I find that amusing.

It's not a religious institution. It's a lay school with a Catholic ethos.

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I think it makes a difference that it is a private Catholic school.

If you hate Catholic morality...

Nobody said anything like that, actually.

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I think it makes a difference that it is a private Catholic school.

If you hate Catholic morality and wish to expunge it, then close this school and pay for its cost with your own taxes.

Unfamiliar with the Irish system - but do religious schools get state funding and do they have to comply to stateset standards of education, as well as anti-discrimination laws ?

Yes, though they can give preference to people of one religion over another with regard to admissions.

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I don't want the school to close, I just want it to be non-religious and not be dickish to people.

If you make me be non religious, since that was my reason for existing in the first place, I shall simply close my doors. You pay for the system to replace me then, one that suits your sensibilities.

We do.

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While personally I've got nothing against pregnant, single woman, and from a totally non-biased, Atheist viewpoint... the school should have the right to admit people they choose. I mean seriously, how dumb do you have to be to apply at a Catholic school whilst being both single and pregnant... that's like trying to go to a Black Panther's meeting while wearing the Klan's robes

Almost all schools here have a Catholic ethos, and this is the first case I've heard of someone being turned away for being pregnant and being a single mother. And this certainly isn't the first teenage pregnancy in the country's history.

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read most of the thread, my simple two cents is simply it is a private entity and thus can make a reject as to anyone.

Being privately owned does not exempt one from the law.

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Assuming the churches actually paid for those, and are not merely using them.

It's the Catholic church. They ain't renters.

Having discovered that abortion is illegal in Ireland, and that a secular education is available only in the cities, I'm re-assessing the idea that Ireland is actually part of the Western World. But for the fact they speak English (grudgingly) I'm starting to think they're like the Christian equivalent of Yemen.

How about we invade them and build a 14-story Brothel and Aborticeum in downtown Dublin?

Good luck getting planning permission. Or a loan.

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The government is looking into legislating for abortion in certain circumstances (it's forbidden in most circumstances by out Constitution).

Pity the only support is has in the Dail is thick as two short planks. Fornication leads to abortion indeed.

[SaintB]

The person in charge of that school strikes me as a cruel bigoted little man below the level of a shit sucking parasite.

[Tergnitz]

No, it doesn't however, doesn't make the law any less stupid.

I see no reason to allow privately owned schools to discriminate on the grounds of civil status, family status, sexual orientation, age, disability, membership of the Traveller Community or race. Nor do I see why they should be allowed to craft admissions policies contrary to the principle of equality and the right of a parent to send their child to the school of the parent's choosing.

So therefore in your society; there is no real point in possessing private property as individuals cannot decide what to with it without adhearing to a strict list of government laws and guidelines.

Would these institutions be forced under your 'utopian' equality laws to accept disabled children who the school simply does not have the facilities to cater for?

Would these institutions be forced to hire every and any person who walks through their door when there a job vacancy; because they don't want to 'discriminate' on race, religion, age, disability or level of expertise?

I don't believe that is the case here. Quoting the Ombudsman's report:

4.2 School enrolment policies and practices should comply with the Equal Status Acts 2000-
2004 which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, membership of the Traveller Community and race. Exemptions apply for single sex schools and where the objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values. In such situations the school can admit persons of a particular religion in preference to others. Where a person of that religion is refused admission, the school must prove that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.

Despite what you've been saying throughout the thread; they are not breaking the above-mentioned act. See highlighted text.

So while you may not like their actions, and despite the Principal acting in a very unChristian fashion; they are not breaking the law.

[Wirbel]

Privately owned schools should be able to accept or reject whoever they wish. I don't care what government owned schools do.

[Forsakia]

A 'catholic ethos' school rejects student who doesn't match up to a (strict) catholic ethos.

Does what it say on the tin?

If schools with a Catholic ethos must refused a place to sinners to maintain that ethos, then I believe the school would have to be empty at all times. If I recall correctly, we're all sinners except that Jesus chap, and he's dead.

Clearly they have a different take on what a Catholic ethos is to you (hardly surprising given the sizable number of different opinions on religion there are floating around).