Australia: Non-Catholics a majority in Catholic schools in southern region

According to a recent survey by Advertiser on AdelaideNow, about 20,000 of the 48,783 southern Australian students enrolled in Catholic schools are not Catholics themselves. This is a peak for the past five years. Parents interviewed by the Australian newspaper said they enrolled their children in these religious schools because they are the most affordable and animated by a sense of community that public schools tend not to provide, although there is more religious education than expected.

The head of the southern Australian Catholic schools emphasized that he wants to keep a strong and clear Catholic identity, as well as pointing out to parents who send their children to Catholic schools that the main feature of these schools has to be respected and therefore among the school activities, children will participate in liturgical celebrations and spiritual retreats, and religious education will be taught.