"For some time now, my delegation has noticed a disconcerting trend, namely, the desire on the part of some to downplay the role of parents in the upbringing of their children, as if to suggest somehow that it is not the role of parents, but that of the State," the statement begins. "In this regard it is important that the natural and thus essential relationship between parents and their children be affirmed and supported, not undermined."
The statement goes on to quote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) where it affirms that “parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children” and points out the fact that the "educational system functions correctly when it includes participation, in planning and implementation of educational policies, of parents, the family, and religious organizations, other civil society organizations and also the private sector."
The goal of education must extend to the formation of the person, the transmission of values, a work ethic, and a sense of solidarity with the entire human family, the statement reminds, then warns that "the State should respect the choices that parents make for their children and avoid attempts at ideological indoctrination."
International law affirms that states must respect the freedom of parents to choose how to educate their children, which could be in schools that are not established by public authorities, the statement continues, and asserts that parents must have the right to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
"The Catholic school assists parents who have the right and duty to choose schools inclusive of homeschooling, and they must possess the freedom to do so, which in turn, must be respected and facilitated by the State," the statement says.
The mention of homeschooling in the statement was welcomed by homeschoolers around the world.
Jeremiah Lorrig, director of media relations at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) told LifeSiteNews.com that the statement was "huge" and that having the support of the Vatican ambassador would be "invaluable" to the homeschool movement.
The HSLDA is involved in cases around the world where parents are being denied the right to homeschool their children. In some countries, parents are being fined or jailed for doing so, such as in Germany where a mother of 12 was thrown in jail and her husband and children forced to flee to Austria because they were homeschooling their children instead of sending them to state-run schools. The story of a Swedish couple who lost custody of their son because they were homeschooling him also made international headlines in recent years.
But the problem isn't limited to "other" countries. As LifeSite reports, the HSLDA has been called upon to defend homeschoolers in the U.S. as well, such as in California where a Supreme Court ruling tried to restrict parental rights.
" . . . (I)t's a constant tug-of-war between homeschool liberty and the desire to control parents,” Lorrig said.
The HSLDA welcomes the support of the Vatican in its battle to keep parental rights intact.
“We actually find ourselves battling the UN, especially with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,” said Lorrig.
He warned against ratifying the radical treaty which would give children rights such as to choose their own religion, to seek governmental review of parental actions, and to obtain "reproductive health" services without the knowledge of their parents. The same treaty would also ban Christianity from public schools and disallow parents to opt-out their children from sex ed programs with which they disagree.
“Constitutionally speaking, it would completely change the structure of family policy in the United States, undermine sovereignty, and put that authority in the hands of remote, self-described experts,” Lorrig said.
The U.S. is one of only a few nations that has not signed this treaty, although the Obama Administration has said it intends to do so.
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