THE Irish News continues to publish excellent letters on a wide range of issues.
I should like to comment on the letter from JDP McAllion, 'Catholic Ideology' (December 30).
This correspondent is not alone in noticing that Catholic education is, by certain minority lobbyists, likened to ideological indoctrination - an insulting, intolerant slur.
Statistics are bandied about at will. What evidence is there for the assertion that 80 per cent of parents in Northern Ireland favour integrated education? Several years ago, I requested details from the integrated education group about their research methods and questionnaires - I received neither. Nor could I find even one Catholic teacher or parent who had participated in this research.
I suspect that lobby groups contact a few like-minded persons, get the answers they want and then extrapolate these for the whole population, giving a totally false result.
Integrated education is, rightly, available to parents who want it, and others are free to join if they wish, but cannot be coerced or intimidated by unjust criticism.
Catholics should be courteously stalwart in defending their hard-won schools. Apart from providing the Christ-centred focus for living, Catholic schools, in all types of academic provision, excel.
I also know, from decades of experience, that Catholic schools are not sources of division in society.
Even while sending their own children to Catholic schools, politicians and 'entertainers' feel free to mock Christianity but not, say, Islamism.
And why? Because the Christian Faith, contrary to the scurrilous accusations levelled against it, is in fact (following Christ as best we can) a caring, loving, forgiving and tolerant way of life and education. IA CORR
Greyabbey, Co Down
