NSW education authorities are investigating Opus dei schools following ABC Four Corners investigation
The prime minister’s office declined to comment.
In the episode, Milligan – who has long been involved with the Catholic Church, including issues surrounding Cardinal George Pell – reveals “in some cases, schools do not follow state curricula, persistent attempts to recruit teenagers into Opus Dei, and misinformation taught about sexual health, including discouraging girls from getting the human papillomavirus vaccine for cervical cancer.”
ABC reporter Louise Milligan.Credit:Simon Schlueter
A spokesman for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) told the herald The agency probed the schools for allegations from the ABC.
Pared confirmed that NESA contacted the group “to clarify how we are addressing health and personal development curriculum concerns.”
The letter, sent to parents by school administrators, lists several questions they claim were put to schools by the ABC. It said the foundation would never discourage students from following medical advice, but acknowledged it had changed the way it tackles some issues, including the HPV vaccine.
“Before 2020, when the HPV vaccine was relatively new, and in response to many requests from concerned parents, Tangara issued a few letters to parents with reference material on the HPV vaccination program. Letters like this were not sent after that period,” the letter reads.
Redfield’s principal, Matthew Aldous, told the Herald: “Whenever specific concerns are brought to our attention, they are dealt with promptly and professionally. It is ridiculous to say that anything else would be done these days.”
Opus Dei, a very conservative and private Catholic prelature, was founded in the 1920s and gained recognition within the Catholic Church in 1950. Tangara and Redfield were founded by Pared in 1982 and each have school chaplains who are priests of Opus Dei.
Dallas McInerney, the chief executive officer of Catholic Schools NSW, said the four schools surveyed by the ABC were “good local schools.”
NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet and Finance Minister Damien Tudehope both have links to the schools surveyed. Credit:Kate Geraghty/Oscar Colman.
“Any targeted media attention from the ABC risks collateral damage to the children who are currently students and are returning to school. They shouldn’t be dragged into a broader agenda by the ABC,” said McInerney, a senior Liberal in the party’s right-wing faction.
“These are not island schools. These are good schools doing a good job on behalf of their students and families.”
The Morning Edition Newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/war-of-words-erupts-between-opus-dei-schools-and-the-abc-20230127-p5cfvs.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national NSW education authorities are investigating Opus dei schools following ABC Four Corners investigation
