As I understand it, the rationale for state-supported faith schools is that parents should be able to have their children educated in a way which reflects the values of their faith rather than the post-Christian or secular values which underpin education in LA-run schools. I don't know of any evidence that faith schools, at any rate in England, have a bad effect on relationships between different faiths or ethnicities. Indeed, certainly so far as Christian schools are concerned, I would expect them positively to encourage their students to develop tolerance and a wide human sympathy.

I believe that it is widely disputed that priestly celibacy is a significant factor in the sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Church. As a Catholic myself, I have strong doubts about the continuing appropriateness of priestly celibacy as a compulsory Church discipline but I think it nevertheless has more to be said for it than Roz suggests.

BTW, unlike Roz (and Brian?) I don't have an opinion on everything; for example, I am totally indifferent as to whether or not the Victorian frontage of FH pools should be preserved!