Vatican doctrinal chief praises English bishop's school blueprint
By Mark Greaves
7 March 2008

Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue of Lancaster has received yet another endorsement for his proposals on Catholic education - this time from Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The cardinal is the third high-profile Vatican figure to praise Bishop O'Donoghue's document, entitled Fit for Mission? Schools.

In a foreword to a newly published version of the document the cardinal said he was "delighted" that Bishop O'Donoghue has promoted the use of the Catechism in schools. He said the bishop "challenges the ascendancy" of relativism in today's society and he recommends the document as a model for other dioceses to follow.

The cardinal said: "Diligence among parents and teachers in passing on to children and young people the fundamental truths of God and man is the key note of Fit for Mission? Schools and it is to be hoped that others will follow the example of the Diocese of Lancaster in establishing educational and pastoral programmes that implement the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the fundamental guarantee for keeping Christ's Gospel whole and alive in their schools and colleges." Bishop O'Donoghue, who will retire in the summer of 2009, said it was "a great honour" to receive such praise. "I never imagined that my brother bishops, who hold such high office in the Holy See, would give it such attention," he said.

He added: "My one hope is that Catholic schools and colleges are able to counter the relativism among our young people and families that makes the deepening of faith so difficult."

Bishop O'Donoghue's document has already been endorsed by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, secretary of the Congregation for Clergy.

Earlier in the year he said he had been "overwhelmed" by the positive response.

"Before Christmas my office was inundated with congratulations, enquiries and requests for copies," he told the Herald.

But he has been criticised by one Labour MP for pushing a "fundamentalist" line on Catholic education.

Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons select committee on education, pointed to the Fit for Mission? Schools document as evidence of a more "doctrinaire" attitude among bishops.