Overview

• Spelc, a leading private‑sector teachers’ union, stated there can be no obligation to pray in class and warned against any direct or indirect pressure on pupils.
• The position responds to remarks by Guillaume Prévost, the new head of Enseignement catholique, who said private‑school teachers have the right to pray with pupils in class under pedagogical and conscience freedoms.
• Spelc emphasized that existing rules already permit prayer only outside teachers’ regulatory service hours within state‑contracted schools.
• The union became the first in the private sector to publicly distance itself from Prévost’s comments after initial criticism from other teacher unions.
• Reports note Prévost also backed a distinct approach to sex education in Catholic schools, a stance that drew further pushback.