Students who are learning about Hinduism and other religions at school do not have time to learn their Catholic faith or even know their basic prayers, a meeting of parents' representatives in Catholic schools will be told today.
In his presidential address to the agm of the National Congress of Catholic Schools' Parent Associations, David Hegarty will say a religious education programme that does not teach the Catholic faith has been developed "in cahoots" with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
This has been "pushed on parents and pupils" in contravention of the ethos of schools.
Traditional Catholic teachings were being pushed aside in some schools.
"There is a big money-making racket here with books and CDs providing everything but the instruction in Christian doctrine to which pupils and their parents as citizens and taxpayers are entitled.
"If pupils are learning about Hinduism etc, they don't have the time to learn their Catholic faith or even know their basic prayers.
"Someone in authority would need to explain why this has gone on."
The death of pope John Paul II caused his members to recall his teachings on the Catholic school.
And whoever in the church was pushing this "unsuitable material" does not have the approval of Pope Benedict XVI.
"Someone with moral authority should start to lead more young people back through proper instruction and faith formation, instead of bishops blaming the parents for lack of belief and respect when the parents' representatives are excluded."
The continued survival of the Catholic Schools' Parent Associations is being threatened because it is "almost out of funds" and the association receives no outside financial support, Mr Hegarty will conclude in his address.