RoI pastors: ‘Stop pushing porn and trans ideology on school kids’

Over 200 church leaders in the Republic of Ireland have warned the Irish Government against promoting harmful content in sex and health education lessons.

In a letter to Government Ministers, the pastors added their strong objections to controversial changes in the curriculum to those already raised by parents.

Under proposals due to be implemented from the start of the next school year, 12 to 15-year-olds will be encouraged to discuss pornography, and transgender ideology will be taught to children at both primary and secondary levels.

Biblical truth

The church leaders warned Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman of the serious “repercussions” for Irish society should these changes be implemented.

They explained: “we represent thousands of Bible-believing Christian parents and grandparents nationwide who find this wholly unacceptable and deeply troubling.

“We hold that the Bible’s teaching on marriage, sexuality and gender is what is best for individuals and societies to flourish. It grieves us deeply to see the promotion of that which will cause harm to people, especially children.”

wholly unacceptable and deeply troubling

Damage

Referring to the current proposal to expose 12 to 15-year-olds to pornographic content, the pastors’ letter warned of “the danger that this material in any form presents to impressionable hearts and minds of children and teens”.

It stated: “We would not expose children to alcohol or drugs in the interests of their education, so why do it with something that research has shown to be as addictive as cocaine”.

The letter described transgender ideology as “both unbiblical and unscientific” and urged the Ministers not to take Ireland down such a “tragic and misguided path” that would inevitably result in “damaged young lives”.

Parental freedoms

The church leaders continued: “As Christians and parents, we believe we have the right to teach our children a Biblical view of gender and sexuality.

“We believe that it is the sole responsibility and right of parents to choose what and when to teach their children on sexuality and gender, not teachers, politicians, or activists.”

They added: “The proposed changes to the curriculum completely undermine the role and responsibility of parents in safeguarding the moral and religious welfare of their children.”

In conclusion, the signatories asked the Government to “rescind” the proposed changes on pornography, to “stop the promotion of transgenderism to impressionable children”, and to “desist from undermining parental authority”.