Robinson comments created ‘distrust’ – Brady
THE head of the Catholic Church has criticised first minister Peter Robinson’s comments on education.
Sean Brady was speaking after the DUP leader described segregated education for school pupils in Northern Ireland as a “benign form of apartheid”.
Mr Robinson made his controversial remarks in a speech last week – sparking a fierce debate among educators, politicians and church leaders.
Although he avoided any direct reference to Roman Catholic schools in the address, some commentators have described the first minister’s remarks as a “thinly veiled attack” on Roman Catholic education.
Mr Brady claimed Mr Robinson’s remarks had created “distrust and suspicion”.
In a speech on Thursday, he said: “Recent suggestions that schools in Northern Ireland should be forced into one single state system are a stark warning to all those who respect diversity and the rights of parents.
“It seems strange that people in Northern Ireland are being told that they should accept a lower standard of rights and freedoms than they would have if they lived in Britain, Scotland or the south of Ireland.
He added: “People in Northern Ireland deserve to live in a normal society.”
Speaking earlier this week, Mr Robinson labelled the response from the Catholic sector to his comments as “hysteria”.
“That kind of hysteria from the Catholic church indicates just how vulnerable they think they are,” he told a daily newspaper.
“I rather hope we get a more sane debate when they sort of get hold of themselves again.”
