Belgium: New Thinking on Catholic Education Fifty Years after Vatican II

Abstract:In this contribution, by way of introduction I first say a few words about the Declaration Gravissimum Educationis and catholic education in Belgium. Afterwards I present some figures illustrating the changed context in which catholic education finds itself today, and I analyze this context as post-Christian and post-secular, suggesting that we no longer use an analysis in terms of secularisation but one of pluralization. Further I reflect on the consequences of this changed context and analysis for identity construction today and the challenges for Christian faith, and the way in which the Church and catholic education have dealt with this. Before finally presenting a new way of profiling catholic education as a project of identity formation in a context of difference and plurality, I shortly comment on the end of the traditional confessional school, and the counterproductive effect of Christian values education. To conclude I include the new vision text on the ‘catholic dialogue school’, which my Office recently has produced.

ISBN:9781472488633

Publication year:2017

Accessibility:Closed

Review status:Peer-reviewed