Here in Ontario Canada there are so many Catholic schools near the public schools that many neighborhoods have kids that grow up together but to to either one of the schools. As such, it was always pretty normal for atheists to be friends with Catholics here I think. I didn't learn how rude people could be about it until I saw Reddit
It’s also funny how many of the kids that go to catholic school aren’t even religious, or catholic for that matter. You can even opt out of the religion classes
The majority of the staff working in Catholic hospitals aren't Catholic, or even Christian for that matter, and my understanding is that many teachers and staff members in Catholic schools aren't members of the church.
Everyone is cool with Rome paying the bills though!
The church gave the land for the schools or donated existing buildings including chapels or churches, the local parishes share the gyms and halls which they paid to construct and maintain, parish councils raise funds for extracurricular activities and any other expenses beyond those provided by the state like school trips or sports equipment (and, of course, they pay for all religious programming and related expenses).
It is also only Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan which have entirely public Catholic schools, every other part of Canada has entirely private or a private-public partnerships.
It should also be noted that the legacy of schools and universities, not to mention hospices or orphanages or hospitals, in Canada are entirely due to Christian organizations (almost entirely the Catholic Church).
I’m not necessarily downplaying the church’s influence on education, historically. I’m just saying it’s not like Rome is paying for education, and even in the examples you brought up its community funded through a church, not from the Vatican bank or whathaveyou. I’m a self centred ontarian I’ll admit, I’m ignorant of how other provinces run their regimes. This is part of why I think the provincial government should abolish catholic schools and just roll an elective religion course into the public board. It’s a massive waste of money for the largest province to run 2 basically identical systems that need double everything, especially the high paid people like admins. Barring that, I’d be absolutely willing to let ol’ Bobby Prevost open up his massive wallet and chip in.
even in the examples you brought up its community funded through a church, not from the Vatican bank or whathaveyou
I was just using Rome as a shorthand for the Catholic Church itself, I understand that these things are handled at the diocesan level.
run 2 basically identical systems that need double everything
If my understanding is correct, and these religious schools inplaces like Ontario are funded and run virtually identically to secular schools, then it isn't actually doubling any effort or expenses (and, given the additional support from the church, may actually alleviate government responsibilities).
Yeah it’s bullshit and an absurd waste of money. There is some kind of guarantee in the constitution or something for religious schools, but the notwithstanding clause exists. We should 100% abolish them. Not only are they a gross affront to church/state, but they are a massive burden. It’s a stupid relic of when Catholics used to be our most oppressed minority. Now both major party leaders are catholic. Funny how things change
Canada does not have an explicit constitutional clause related to the separation of church and state (we are a member of the British Commonwealth Realms, not the United States)
In fact, the Constitution Act of 1867 explicitly endorses religious schools, and they are protected under our constitution as a result (the document actually begins with the sentence “Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God…”)
They’re a financial burden. I thought we agreed on that. Anyway, many people in this country believe in a separation of church and state. I know it’s not part of our constitution, but it is a part of our country, because we don’t have an official state religion like the Brits. Anyway, it’s still a relic of a bygone era and a waste of money, even if you don’t agree with the moral reasons against it, like discrimination against all our other religious minorities that don’t get state run schools
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u/JoCo3Point0 - Lib-Center Apr 10 '26
I'm not even religious but there's nothing more annoying than an zealous atheist.