Response to A Way Forward for RE

A way forward for RE after double warnings issued to Irish Church by Fr Sean Smith, ICN Jan 15th, 2026

I write as a former RE teacher, lecturer and LEA Inspector in the north of England and as Interreligious Coordinator for the Diocese of Leeds. I know very little about the warnings issued to the Irish Church concerning RE. I totally agree that there is a need to find ways, as Fr Sean argues, to move from RE confined to a single context - in home, school or parish - presented as a 'head trip' to it becoming a 'matter of the heart'. Fr Sean receives powerful backing from the writings of Franciscan theologian Eric Doyle who spoke of 'mindsight' as opposed to 'heartsight'. And in turn by the writings of neuro-scientist and philosopher Iain McGilchrist.

I also agree that the liturgy, the sacraments - the Eucharist as so beautifully presented by Pope Francis in his letter 'Desiderio Desideravi' could be the vehicle for parents and children to develop a personal relationship with Christ. 'Could be.' Much liturgical 'formation' would be needed for both clergy and laity to make the liturgy a way into the 'loving relationship with Jesus' we desire.

I believe there is one element missing in Fr Sean's valuable proposal to re-empower parents to become first 'formators'. How can we open ourselves and our children to attend to the impulses of our hearts - our God-given capacity - to love and then to develop what has to be the ocean of relationality (love of Jesus) within which all our 'mindsight' must swim? Heads must be ruled by hearts.

I argue in my 'Realising the Sacred, The Ways of a Contemplative and Synodal Church' (2025 Franciscan Publishing ) that the practice of some form of silent contemplative prayer is the crucial missing element. The slow cultivation of this practice would open us to the realisation that 'the silent presence of the Spirit of Jesus resides within us'. By way of re-discovering and re-connecting ourselves to the whole rich mystical contemplative tradition of the Church we can move from head to heart, from RE as information to the 'Formation' of a loving developing relationship with Jesus.

Many Catholics are rediscovering contemplative silent prayer as the royal route which enriches all other forms of prayer - the Eucharist included, builds loving communities and empowers all the baptised for mission.

Benedictine Lawrence Freeman regards introducing children to contemplative practice - meditation - as equivalent to equipping them with literacy or numeracy in schools. It will empower them to create the contemplative synodal missionary Church of the future. He is not alone in believing this.'

It is tragic that children do not routinely have the opportunity to meditate be it in school, parish or home. It gives children an experience of the presence of God within their hearts. Experience shows it also brings benefits to the rest of their development in all else.

David Jackson Jan 16th 2026.