(Montreal) The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec is worried about the consequences of what it calls “the evacuation of notions of religious culture” announced by the Minister of Education of Quebec, Jean-François Roberge, who plans to replace the Ethics and Religious Culture (ECR) program in schools with the Culture and citizenship of Quebec program next year.
In a press release, the bishops of Quebec explain that in their opinion, the abolition of the ECR program will cause an increase in the ignorance of the religious fact which will risk fueling prejudices and increasing social polarization, rather than helping students to walk towards the recognition of the other and the pursuit of the common good.
In a brief presented in early 2020 during consultations organized by Minister Roberge, the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec explained that the religious phenomenon must be approached in public schools in a nuanced and objective manner.
The bishops say the ECR program, which was put in place in 2008, was moving in the right direction.
The Assembly of Catholic Bishops maintains that religious experience is a central dimension of the life of many citizens, that it is fundamental to human experience and that it is decisive in the history and culture of Quebec.
When he presented the Culture and Quebec citizenship program last Sunday, Minister Roberge explained that the ECR course emphasizes the religion of belonging to learn and understand the other, but that with the new course, this would be part of the elements without being preponderant.
The Minister announced that the new course will be rolled out gradually and on a voluntary basis from the start of the school year in 2022 before being implemented throughout the network in September 2023, both at primary and secondary levels.
Until then, teachers will receive training; hiring teachers will not be necessary, said Minister Roberge.
The Assembly of Catholic Bishops wants the concerns expressed in civil society since the minister’s announcement to be taken into account in developing the details of the new curriculum, which remain to be determined.