Campaign hopes to end 'Catholics first' school enrolment policies
A new campaign is underway to prevent schools with religious patronage from turning away children on the basis of not being baptised or of that religion.
The Repeal Section 7(3)(c) campaign has secured over 10,000 signatures so far for a petition.
Paddy Monahan started the campaign to change the provision in the Equal Status Act 2000.
"That Act allows schools under religious patronage to give preference to children that are of that denomination," he said.
"In other words, they can turn away unbaptised children who aren't of that religion, should the school be oversubscribed.
"So it's a very narrow change that we're seeking. It actually doesn't affect the patronage of the school, it removes their legal right to turn away children that aren't of that religion."
