Support for Relationshipsand Moral Education in Catholic Secondary SchoolsThursday 25th May 2006Sam McFadden, Project Development Officer

Called to Love

“All schools are expected to provide sex and relationships education . . . consistent with

the principles and aims of national guidance on the

conduct of sex education.”

Respect and Responsibility, 2005

National Context

“It is recognised that religious authorities with a

role in denominational education do provide

guidance for their denominational schools and that right will continue as at

present.”

Scottish Executive, Circular 2/2001

National Context

Historical Background• February 1999 ‘Towards a Healthier Scotland’.• October 1999 Executive announces plans to

repeal Section 28, Paragraph 2A, of the Local Government Act,1986.

• February 2000 Working group set up, chaired by Mike McCabe, DoE, Sth. Ayrshire.

• June 2000 McCabe Report published.• February 2001 Healthy Respect Phase 1.• March 2001 Circular 2/2001.• February 2003 CEC Guidance Notes to

accompany recently published Guidelines document.

• January 2005 ‘Respect and Responsibility’.• August 2005 ‘Called to Love’ project.

What is ‘Called to Love’?• Partnership project between Healthy Respect and

SCES, the Scottish Catholic Education Service.

• To produce a package of teaching and support resources to facilitate the delivery of appropriate and coherent programme of RME in Catholic secondary schools.

• Set within a context of love, respect, responsibility and moral reasoning.

• Fully supportive of Church teaching and in line with the guidelines produced by the CEC.

“Love is therefore the fundamental and innate vocation of every human

being.”

Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio

Why ‘Called to Love’?

Why ‘Called to Love’?• “Deus Caritas Est.”

• “God is love and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.” (1 Jn.4:16)

• “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength . . . And you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mk. 12 30-31)

• “Respect for each other and strong, trusting relationships based on sound values, are at the heart of our national, community and personal wellbeing.” (Andy Kerr)

Why ‘Called to Love’?• Love is the fundamental and innate vocation

of every human being.” (Familiaris Consortio)

• We are created for love.

• This is the reason for our very existence; to love and be loved as God loves.

• Therefore, in this respect we are each of us ‘Called to Love.’

Project Aims1. To develop curricular guidance and

appropriate resources on sex and relationships education for use in Catholic schools.

2. To develop and deliver appropriate training and support for teachers and other professionals working in this area.

3. To evaluate and review materials to enable the final production of final resources and CPD materials.

4. To work in partnership with parents and relevant interest groups.

Project Development• Based on existing good practice, a range of

teaching resources will be produced.• S1 materials are currently being piloted in seven

schools within three local authorities.• CPD training has been delivered at two venues to

teachers from the pilot schools.• The first issue of the project newsletter has been

produced and distributed.• A website for the project: www.calledtolove.org is

currently under construction.• Support materials for parents and other relevant

interest groups will be devised.• Pupils materials for S2 to S6 will be devised and

piloted by December 2006.

“The purpose of sex education is to provide

knowledge and understanding of the nature

of sexuality and the processes of human

reproduction within the context of relationships

based on love and respect.”

Scottish Executive, Circular 2/2001

Called to Love

Key Features• Promote a Catholic Christian understanding

of the dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God.

• Develop an appreciation of the importance of love in relationships and an understanding of sexuality as a gift from God.

• Relationships set within a context of spiritual and moral formation.

• Promote marriage as a sign of the relationship between God and humankind.

• Develop an appreciation of family life.• Develop understanding and skills required

for moral decision-making and responsible actions.

Important Principles• The rights of young people to be positively and

prudently informed on moral and sexual issues.• The rights of parents to be consulted and

informed about the contents of the project materials.

• The sanctity of human life.• Relationships based on love and self-giving.• The virtues of modesty and chastity.• The forming of conscience.• The values of respect, trust, honesty and

compassion.• The importance of personal responsibility.• The importance of marriage and the family.• The value of abstinence outwith marriage.

“We are not some casual and meaningless product of

evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God.

Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is

necessary.”

Pope Benedict XVI

Called to Love

Support for Relationshipsand Moral Education in Catholic Secondary SchoolsThursday 25th May 2006Sam McFadden, Project Development Officer

Called to Love