London, England, May 15, 2018 / 16:07 pm
Caps on Catholic enrollment in government-funded Catholic schools in England and Wales will continue, despite the ruling party's campaign pledge to end the limits.
Catholic leaders reacted critically to the news the Conservative government would not lift the caps.
"Catholic schools are popular with parents of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, despite this we will remain barred from participating in the free school program," Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool said May 11, charging that the decision to retain the cap "sides with a vocal minority of campaigners who oppose the existence of church schools."
"The Catholic Church has had a long and positive relationship with the State in the provision of education and we see today's decision as a regressive step in this historic partnership," Archbishop McMahon said.