Lying about my religion?

The college I want to apply prioritises Catholic students' applications over non-catholic students from non-partnership schools. Could I, hypothetically speaking, lie and say that I'm Catholic, or would I need to actually convert to Catholicism? How can one prove their religion? If I attend Mass for 3 months until I send my application, does that make me Catholic? Would I need to complete a Holy Communion or something? Would they check? All they ask for is your parish, so is there some kind of top secret Catholic register of Catholics?

I'm only hypothesising, and I know many non-catholic students from non partnership schools who still got in. I would never actually lie/change religion just for a college. I'm just curious

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Reply 1

username3482522

Isn't that discrimination?

Reply 2

Thrillanthropist

Original post by num.7

Isn't that discrimination?

It's a Catholic College and it's allowed to give Catholic students priority as long as it still accepts a certain percentage of non-catholic students.

On their website it says:
"The following priority will be given to applications:
■ Pupils from Partnership Roman Catholic High Schools
■ Catholic pupils from Non-Partnership Roman Catholic High Schools
■ Catholic pupils from other schools
■ Other pupils
■ Pupils from any of the above categories who have not met the applications deadline."

Idk whether or not it is discrimination, but it's legal and it's one of the best colleges in the city

Reply 3

RogerOxon

Original post by Thrillanthropist

It's a Catholic College and it's allowed to give Catholic students priority as long as it still accepts a certain percentage of non-catholic students.
Lie. Faith school is an oxymoron, and should be illegal IMO.

Reply 4

storm95

why would you want to go to a place like that in the first place?

Reply 5

RogerOxon

Original post by frankielogue

get ****ed.

It would appear that you need some schooling, if you think that's an appropriate or useful reply to a valid point. It plainly is discrimination on the grounds of religion. It's nasty and should be illegal in all contexts.

Do you support discrimination on the grounds of religion?

Reply 6

username3482522

Original post by frankielogue

get ****ed.

There really was no need for that.

Reply 7

Thrillanthropist

Original post by storm95

why would you want to go to a place like that in the first place?

Because it's my nearest college (10-minute walk from my house) and it's massive. I holds 1000 students, has been rated outstanding by Ofsted and has:
-Three relaxed student cafeterias, with shop

•

-An extensive theatre workshop area and two theatres

•

-25 IT suites, including suites of Apple Macs

•

-Industry standard photography studio

•

-Professional standard media editing suites

•

-State-of-the-art student study centres, with drop in PC and Apple Mac facilities and internet access for students

•

-A dedicated student support suite – with careers, study skills and mentoring support-

•

-Extensive library with internet access and multi media resources

•

-A historic nineteenth century Chapel – for quiet reflection

•

-Networked IT facilities in all classrooms with internet access

•

-State-of-the-art science labs using cutting edge equipment and technologies

•

-Sports facilities including: new sports hall, eight acres of sports fields, new sports pavilion

•

-Ballroom standard dance studio

•

-Lifts for disabled access across the campus

•

-Specialist facilities for students with learning difficulties and disabilities including: simulated living area, health rooms, kitchen and teaching rooms

•

-Dedicated Art, Textiles, Photography and Graphics studio

•

-Future proofed broadcasting studio

•

-Dedicated music technology suites

•

-Extensive and mature gardens set across the nine acre site.

And they have an Oxbridge class, specifically for gifted students who want to go there and they offer the courses I want to do.

SO I really really really want to go that college, but I'm a non-catholic student from a non-catholic school

Reply 8

_gcx

Study Forum Helper

Original post by frankielogue

get ****ed.

The correct answer is: of course it is, it's at the core of all faith schools.

Reply 9

storm95

Original post by Thrillanthropist

Because it's my nearest college (10-minute walk from my house) and it's massive. I holds 1000 students, has been rated outstanding by Ofsted and has:
-Three relaxed student cafeterias, with shop

•

-An extensive theatre workshop area and two theatres

•

-25 IT suites, including suites of Apple Macs

•

-Industry standard photography studio

•

-Professional standard media editing suites

•

-State-of-the-art student study centres, with drop in PC and Apple Mac facilities and internet access for students

•

-A dedicated student support suite – with careers, study skills and mentoring support-

•

-Extensive library with internet access and multi media resources

•

-A historic nineteenth century Chapel – for quiet reflection

•

-Networked IT facilities in all classrooms with internet access

•

-State-of-the-art science labs using cutting edge equipment and technologies

•

-Sports facilities including: new sports hall, eight acres of sports fields, new sports pavilion

•

-Ballroom standard dance studio

•

-Lifts for disabled access across the campus

•

-Specialist facilities for students with learning difficulties and disabilities including: simulated living area, health rooms, kitchen and teaching rooms

•

-Dedicated Art, Textiles, Photography and Graphics studio

•

-Future proofed broadcasting studio

•

-Dedicated music technology suites

•

-Extensive and mature gardens set across the nine acre site.

i'd rather travel miles to an outstanding non discriminating college than to a snob college

Reply 10

Muttley79

Original post by Thrillanthropist

The Catholic schools I know require a baptism certificate and a reference from a Priest.

Reply 11

username2703735

Some would argue they're lying to you so I don't see why not :wink:

Reply 12

StealingThunder

From what I remember, with faith schools you need to prove you've been practising for 2 years, so your priest confirms this and that's the evidence?
I've known people who've legit just gone to church for that period of time to get into the school they want. I'm not sure 3 months would cut it tho.
I'm non-religious and I think during the 11+ I just got flat out rejected from a CofE school. It's sucky, but it's just one of those things. Another type of social engineering 😕

Reply 13

Charliewiz

It is a joke how in a secular country faith schools receive public funding.

Reply 14

3121

Original post by Charliewiz

It is a joke how in a secular country faith schools receive public funding.

Catholics still pay taxes, believe it or not

Reply 15

Charliewiz

Original post by Zxyn

Catholics still pay taxes, believe it or not

Thats not how democracy works. If it is a public school they should never be able to discriminate based on religion.

Reply 16

_gcx

Study Forum Helper

Original post by Zxyn

Catholics still pay taxes, believe it or not

That's besides the point. They're still discriminating on the basis of one's religion. But, we are getting off topic here.

Reply 17

3121

Original post by Charliewiz

Thats not how democracy works. If it is a public school they should never be able to discriminate based on religion.

You’re right, if anything democracy doesn’t work! Well said.

Reply 18

applesforme

I wouldn't lie...that means you're going to be living a lie every day and you'll be worried to tell anyone the truth in case it gets out and then the teachers all realised you are a liar, and these are the people who you will want to say something good about you when you're applying for uni. I think you should be really respectful about their religion and you should find out as much as you can about catholicsm, and maybe emphasize that you're agnostic rather than atheist if that's the case, that at least leaves it open. They may even see you as a lost lamb to take into the fold and show the right path to (they love ranting on about the perils of not believing and eternal hellfire etc. so you will give them the opportunity for that). But I can see the benefits of going to a faith school - apparently they do better than other schools, and from your description seem to have more money.

Reply 19

Bernadette04

All Catholic schools will require proof of faith. Over subscribed schools are even more picky.

Proof of Catholic faith is a baptism certificate. When I lived in Liverpool where most of the high Schools are Catholic anyway, my two eldest sons required baptism certificate, proof of regular church attendance which was a letter from the local parish priest, and a faith interview where they were asked 10 questions about Catholicism. This was a top Catholic high school that was vastly over subscribed. It was 10 miles away, but the local school near to us was awful.

I didn't agree with all this palaver myself but because the school had fantastic facilities, brilliant results, extra curricular activities etc we went through it twice. I then moved to Wales where Catholics are very much a minority lol.

Don't lie as you will be found out instantly. If you wish to convert to Catholicism you need to make an appointment with a local priest.