Diocese counters state sex education with own advice

Sex education resources provided by the Government are too explicit and do not accord with the Church’s teaching on relationships, the Diocese of Portsmouth is warning.

Guidelines for Catholic schools on sex and relationship education published by the diocese warns teachers to take care in choosing resources for sex and relationship education (SRE).

It also advises schools to only refer students to outside agencies that have been vetted to ensure their policies are in line with Church teaching.

“Some resources are too sexually explicit; others seem to portray casual sexual relationships as ‘normal.’” it says adding that sex education ought to promote chastity and abstinence.

What the document refers to as “alternate views” around contraception, gay relationships and IVF should be taught with reference to the Church’s teaching on marriage, and not “neutral or value-free”.

But it acknowledges: “Given that many of our young come from homes with a variety of family models, care needs to be taken to ensure that SRE is taught in the context of God’s unconditional love, with mercy and compassion, so that parents and students feel supported and not judged.”