Obama Calls Catholic, Protestant Schools Divisive

By Lauren Leigh Noske 22 Jun, 2013 10:24 EDT

U.S. President Barack Obama reacts as the sun comes out as he works alongside Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and students on a school project about the G8 summit during a visit to the Enniskillen Integrated Primary School in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Monday, June 17, 2013. REUTERS/Matt Dunham/POOL

In a recent speech to more than 1,000 youth in Ireland, President Obama highlighted the distinction between protestant and Catholic schools as a point of contention in the country.

The President, who is an advocate of many policies that defy Christian principles - such as abortion and homosexual unions - told the youth that "Because issues like segregated schools and housing, lack of jobs and opportunity - symbols of history that are a source of pride for some and pain for others - these are not tangential to peace; they’re essential to it. If towns remain divided - if Catholics have their schools and buildings, and Protestants have theirs - if we can’t see ourselves in one another, if fear or resentment are allowed to harden, that encourages division. It discourages cooperation."

Contrary to the President's remark, Catholic schools are open to people with various religious backgrounds. While his comments may not be an indication that he desires for Christian schools to be abolished, many Catholics are alarmed by the President's choice to use the distinction between Christian denominations as a reason for a country's political unrest.

The American Catholics for Religious Freedom retorted Thursday, "President Obama’s anti-faith, secular agenda was shamefully on full display yesterday when he told the young people of Northern Ireland that Catholic education and other faith-based schools were divisive and an obstacle to peace."

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Obama Calls Catholic, Protestant Schools Divisive

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.