School children are being verbally attacked for believing in traditional marriage and upholding the life of the unborn, MSPs have been told.
Numerous accounts – including one girl being told she ‘wasn’t a real woman’ because she did not support abortion – were revealed by the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.
Another student was told she was a “disgrace” for “promoting this kind of hate” when she said she supported marriage between a man and a woman.
Harassment
In a separate incident, a student revealed they were harangued on Facebook over their views on marriage and abortion. Another dropped out of a class “to avoid the harassment”.
It amounts to “disturbing levels of bullying”, the Roman Catholic Church said as it submitted evidence to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
In verbal evidence to the Committee, Anthony Horan warned of a “culture of fear” that people face when discussing their faith.
Speaking about the young people’s evidence, he said: “It is disappointing that they cannot even admit or be open about the fact that they have a Catholic faith and hold certain values.”
‘Trojan horse’
The Committee today published its report on bullying and harassment at school and referenced the evidence from the Roman Catholic Church.
Last year, the Scottish Government offered its ‘whole-hearted’ backing to a controversial LGBT schools campaign. The Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign seeks to make it compulsory for children to receive teaching on same-sex relationships, pro-LGBT sexual health education and Stonewall.
But Revd David Robertson, founder of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, has described the TIE campaign as a “Trojan horse to impose an ideological perspective on all pupils”.
All bullying unacceptable
In New South Wales, Australia, a new anti-bullying programme has been adopted which supports children attacked for their race, weight or appearance – rather than solely for LGBT issues as previously.
The state’s Education Minister said all bullying was unacceptable and the Australian Christian Lobby described the action as a victory for parents.