Tension between Cathlic and non-Catholic students has developed as a result of approval by the Argentine Congress of compulsory religious instruction in the schools. The program, which originated under the military government in 1943, provides for instruction in the catechism by a priest, or, at the option of the parents, classes in ethics under secular teachers.
Parents who have asked for the “morals” classes for their children are mainly of the Jewish or other non-Cathelic faiths. These youngsters are ostracized during the play periods. Emphasis in the catechism classes on the crucifixion of Christ has had unfortunate application among the children.
Nevertheless, the DAIA, the central body of Argentine Jews, this week renewed its appeal to Jewish parents to ask for exemptions from Catholic teaching for their children. Some parents have refrained from doing so in order to spare their children the displeasure of their fellows.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
