Ontario Allows Students to Opt Out of All Religious Activities in Catholic Schools

An interesting column in the Toronto Star last week discussed the recent ruling by an Ontario trial court that a student attending a publicly-funded Catholic school could opt out of all religious activities.  The ruling was based on an interpretation of the province's Education Act.  The school argued that the student should be required to attend Catholic services held in the school's auditorium and other religious activities, even as it reluctantly allowed the student to opt out of religious instruction courses.  The case is an important one for the future of publicly-funded Catholic schools in Ontario, which have long been a site of controversy.  The judgement will presumably be appealed.