'Other issues' in child bar case

KIZZY Chambers, the four-year-old daughter of a non-Catholic Deptford couple. who last week was refused a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, was not barred because her parents were unmarried.
Fr Gerald Flood, the chairman of the school Governors said in a statement, exclusive to the Catholic Herald that other reasons were involved in his decision, although the lüllfactscouldnotberevealed because he was not prepared to break confidentialities contained in conversations he had held with the family.
The statement said: "The Governors of St Josbph's Primary School, Crossfield Street, SE8, decided at the last meeting but one that wewould normally restrict such entries toCatholic children, but that we would be prepared to accept children of committed Christian families and even non-Christian children in special circumstances.
"Amongst our applicants for admission was Kizzy Chambers. who was baptised in the Church of England at St Paul's.
"In the light of this, I. as chairman of the Governors. judged that Kizzy did not really qualify for a place with us and at the last minute I cancelled the agreement that she could come.
"I apologised to the father and mother for the late cancellation. I had debated for quite some time whether to let her entry stand, but decided in the end that it would be unfair on others who had been refused admission on the grounds of non-Catholicity or a non-committed Christian family background.
"I did offer to remunerate the family in full for uniform expenses.
"Under the Education Act the parents have the right to appeal against the decision and Mgr Mahony (of the Diocesan Schools Commission) has informed them of this fact.
"Our Christian schools always give preference to the children of practicing Catholics, but occasionally children of other faiths are admitted, and I am always conscious that we should not accept children of other faiths whose own schools might be under subscribed."