There has been a rise in claims of LGBTI youth in schools generally across the UK with a surge in young people self-identifying. This is a ‘theme’ or ‘matter’ or ‘question’ that has been insufficiently ventilated in relation to the Catholic school. It is shrouded in inhibition, confusion, evasion or fear. Burying our heads in the sand is not helping us move forward and there is a potential political threat to the mission of Catholic schools from failing to engage. A key driver of this paper is the rapidly changing climate of opinion and activism around LGBTI experiences in schools and society. From an essentially rights based perspective, and supported by powerful equality legislation, people are campaigning vigorously through formal and informal groups for what they perceive as a redress of longstanding exclusion and discrimination. The concern in particular for LGBTI rights and recognition for under 18s has inevitably drawn schools into these national debates. Three narratives are worthy of discussion around this theme and are inextricably linked: the legal, theological and pastoral narratives. This paper will consider these and suggest the impact that developments are having on the Catholic school sector, and in particular, the teaching of Religious education.

在英国各地的学校中，对LGBTI青年的声称有所增加，年轻人自我认同感激增。这是一个相对于天主教学校而言通风不足的“主题”，“事项”或“问题”。它笼罩在抑制，困惑，逃避或恐惧中。把头埋在沙地上并不能帮助我们前进，而且由于未能参与而对天主教学校的使命构成了潜在的政治威胁。本文的主要驱动力是围绕LGBTI在学校和社会中的经历而迅速变化的舆论和行动主义氛围。从本质上基于权利的观点出发，并在强有力的平等立法的支持下，人们正在通过正式和非正式的团体进行激烈的运动，以寻求对长期以来被排斥和歧视的补救。特别是对LGBTI权利和18岁以下青少年的认可的关注不可避免地将学校吸引到了这些国家辩论中。围绕这一主题，三种叙事值得讨论，它们之间有着千丝万缕的联系：法律，神学和田园叙事。本文将考虑这些因素，并提出事态发展对天主教学校部门尤其是宗教教育的影响。