Bishops urge resistance to new religion courses at school

Two Greek bishops are rallying parents not to allow their children to be taught the new religion course programs at state-run schools.

Pavlos, bishop of Glyfada, Elliniko, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Vari, issued a circular on Wednesday urging parents in his congregation to demand that their children are taught the previous curriculum and not the new “unacceptable” material.

“It’s time to react in the name of Christ and to safeguard the souls of our children,” he said, adding that people must fight back against efforts to change children’s Greek Orthodox identity.

Meanwhile, Bishop Chrystosotomos of Symi, Tilos, Halki and Kastelorizo urged people to return religious course texts to school, claiming that the government is intent on eradicating Orthodoxy from schools.

The government says the new courses aim to change the way religion is taught in schools, by steering away from catechism in Orthodox Christianity to lessons in all religions.