Mixed-Religion Children in Ireland

In Ireland, a great deal of society is segregated according to religion. Nearly all schools are segregated between Protestants and Catholics while 80% of all housing is religiously segregated. So where do mixed-religion families fit in? Unfortunately, they don't.

Gary Grattan writes in the Belfast Telegraph:

Children whose parents cross the Catholic/Protestant divide can face rejection, isolation, discrimination and intimidation. At least 17% of children in public care in Northern Ireland are from cross-community families, compared to just 6% of cross-community relationships in the population as a whole. Despite this high proportion, there are very few neutral or integrated support services for children and families. As a result, the needs of the growing number of cross-community families are being neglected.

Ireland is excellent as a bad example of how not to mix religion and politics. The religious segregation we see in Ireland is a principle contributing factor to the religious suspicion, bigotry, and violence that has long plagued that nation. Unfortunately, similar segregation would be the end result of many of the policy initiatives proposed by religious and political conservatives in America, for example private school vouchers.

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Religion in Public Schools
• School Vouchers