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Toronto Star —
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2005-01-20
An article explaining why public funding of any religious school is a very bad idea.
In Ontario we have two publicly financed school systems: one public, the other Roman Catholic. Funding of the latter is
enshrined in our constitution, and is a relic of an earlier time when most of our population was Christian. Today, other
religious groups have been forcefully expressing the view that it is unfair that they do not have the same funding as
Roman Catholics.
When the Harris Conservatives were in power they started to fund religious (and other independent) schools through a tax
credit, which the McGuinty government subsequently removed. The Supreme Court declined to review the issue, leaving it
to the political process. Now some are contending that since Quebec is funding Jewish and other faith-based schools, to
be equitable Ontario should also.
At first glance it is easy to see their point, but I believe a closer look counters this argument.
Canada has been described as a patchwork quilt of cultures, religions, etc., and is justly praised for making this work.
But to continue the analogy, a patchwork quilt needs a backing to hold it together, and our public schools play part of
this role. They provide all of our children the opportunity for a general education, if imperfect at times, and just as
importantly they give our children an opportunity to interact with people from very different religious and cultural
backgrounds, thus providing an opportunity to develop tolerance and understanding.
Anti-homophobic teaching in our public schools is a small example of what they can do to help counter the homophobia of
some people, in some cases supported by religious interpretations. Recent complaints by a small minority of parents against
this teaching are a clear sign of its necessity. General funding of religious and independent schools would fragment our
public education system, and contribute to multiple solitudes in our society.
...
In summary, I suggest public funding of any religious school is poor public policy in a pluralistic country such as modern
Canada. Still, we find ourselves in a situation that for historical reasons Roman Catholic schools are publicly funded.
What are our options?...
...
In this vein, I would like to see Roman Catholics begin a debate on the ethics and morality of their church voluntarily
giving up the right to public funding, in the interests of growing a strong pluralistic Canada, and removing the current
inequity to their fellow believers.
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