Is it reasonable for a Catholic sixth form college to require students (aged 16-19) to attend mass?

Question

At such a college in the UK, students have been complaining that their human rights are being violated. The UK government seems to agree with them. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5194456.stm

Answer 1

I guess it's up to the college to set out the rules on that, as long as they are clear from the beginning. If you know this before enroling - well, you're signing up to the whole package.
Personally, however, and I'm saying this as a Catholic university chaplain, I would discourage any College from such a policy. To oblige a young person over 16 to go to mass is probably counterproductive and likely to turn him/her off formal religion.
This would also depend wether it was a once-a-term thing or something much more regular. Now, if mass - or any other form of worship - was voluntary, this would require rather more effort on the side of the chaplain to make it speak to young people. After all, he would not be able to count on a captive audience!

Answer 2

If it is a Catholic College then it is part of the education offered.

I'm sure there is a choice... go to Mass or leave the College. Not much of a choice but still a choice.

If parents are paying for the education then the students should honour their parents wishes. It isn't a huge issue is it? Just a few hours a week - and then the student is well able to make an informed choice in later life about attending mass or not.

I went to an Anglican College and found sermons very informative. i no longer attend church but have never forgotten the lessons in ancient politics......

Answer 3

Since sixth form is a non-cumpulsory school, it is reasonable to assume that they would require students in a Catholic college to attend mass. However, if the school in question is a public institution, then mandatory religious observances such as mass should be optional because of the separation of church and state.

Answer 4

You have answered the question. It’s a religious school, and the first thing about such schools is the social and moral education of their students. Attending mass is not a bad thing if it helps the teenagers who would soon become adults have both a social and spiritual point of view when confronted in the society they would be living in.

And again the mass is a prayer, and looking at today’s society it needs persons that believe in the efficacy of prayer. If you train the teenagers right they will grow up right and we shall have less ASBO related problems.

Our grandparents say the society is lacking in morals, what easier way to help than letting the teenagers have a moral view to life.

And about human right, this is necessary to up held if what is been done to the teens is a grave evil and would lead them moral and social ruin.

Answer 5

You know the rules of the school when you apply. If you don't like it, don't go there. I had to wear uniform in my lower sixth year which I hated, and in upper 6th we had to wear suits. If I'd gone to the sixth form college I could have worn what I liked. Human rights being violated? No, I knew the rules when I chose the place. I think some people just like making a fuss.

Answer 6

Each privately run school has the right to set its own rules, within a general code of accepted behaviour. I could conceive an argument that attending mass is the same as attending a lesson.

Answer 7

Yes. It's a Catholic sixth form college.
They knew the risk when they bought the ticket. So to speak.
For crying out loud! Some clever idea by some smart ar5e kid, no doubt. Really radical, man. Child. How sad is that?

Answer 8

I'm not sure about that one. It seems they shouldn't be forced but

If they were aware that it was a Catholic college at the time of enrolment and also that they were required to attend mass then it seems right.

However, forcing somebody against there will to partake in a religion is immoral.

Answer 9

Yes, you are at a Catholic School, if you object to this go to a Sixth Form College.

Answer 10

it particularly is great which you probably did this. i'm not so valuable despite if it fairly is actual names that we are pronounced as, greater so innovations and innovations. case in point, monks are pronounced as pedophiles, we worship Mary and the Pope, we are actually not Christians, we are cannibals, we pray to saints, cultists, satanists, and of path, the whore of Babylon. those impolite, conceited and infantile feedback gets them no the place- so I fail to confirm the element for why people call us those names. Even after answer after answer putting forward that we don't worship Mary, they nevertheless pass on putting forward that we do, like they have some divine reason to have faith that. they are in simple terms misinformed- and that's via us Catholics to set those questions without delay. Ever notice whilst a Protestant asks a question on the subject of the Catholic church, many Catholics answer thorough and precise solutions, the ideal answer- however the Protestant nevertheless alternatives yet another Protestant answer as a results of fact the ideal answer? i think of it fairly is undemanding insecurities. all of us comprehend that none of those names or claims are real, and that i think that throughout seek of the ideal solutions from fellow Catholics here in R&S will in elementary terms make us greater suitable. Protestants are lacking lots- they are actually not in elementary terms lacking the actual physique and Blood of Christ, they are lacking lots greater, God's real presence. forget on the subject of the assaults, on the grounds it fairly is barely blatant lies.