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The Principal of Blanchelande College is dismissing criticism made to the Committee for Employment & Social Security about the school's fundraising efforts and says the author of critical letters to the Committee "has a personal axe to grind" with him.
Two letters sent to the Committee anonymously claim that Rob O'Brien "censored attempts" to raise money for Comic Relief last Friday and criticised how Blanchelande is directing funds raised in aid of people suffering as a result of war in Ukraine.
Mr O'Brien confirmed that Blanchelande did not celebrate Red Nose Day or raise money for Comic Relief, but he said this was nothing unusual as "no school can support every charity".
He said the author of the letter about Blanchelande's donations to aid Ukrainians appears to "know little" about their subject and that he is "proud" of the school's fundraising efforts.
The letters setting out concerns to the Committee for Employment & Social Security are titled "Unintended Consequences".
Pictured: Blanchelande's chosen charities this year are the Tumaini Fund and Island Search and Rescue, but its separate fundraising efforts in aid of Ukraine have drawn sharp criticism in a letter sent to the Committee for Employment & Social Security.
The first letter suggests that allowing the island’s Catholic schools to favour Catholics when appointing senior leaders - which was recently endorsed again in a resolution made by the States' Assembly which was opposed by the Committee for Employment & Social Security - leads to unintended consequences and cites as an example funds raised for Ukraine which the author claims are at risk of being misdirected.
The author questions Blanchelande’s decision to direct the proceeds of a fundraising day for Ukraine to a charity called 'Aid to the Church in Need' (ACN). ACN assists the Church where it is oppressed or in danger.
The author claims the charity mainly spends donations on stipends (clergy salary) and the construction of churches and that only 9.8% of funds it received in 2021 went to refugees and emergency aid.
The letter also states: "The Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine has had a very limited presence in the country for around the last 500 years since, for most of Ukraine’s history, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Uniate Church have been the dominant Christian religions."
It suggests that Catholicism represents only 1% of faith in Ukraine and that funds raised by the school community at Blanchelande may make their way only to that 1%.
Pictured: According to ACN UK’s website, the charity has committed more than £830,00 to the Church in Ukraine to help priests “continue their mission of love”.
Mr O’Brien told Express that he refutes the 1% calculation and defends the school's fundraising efforts.
"Evidently, your correspondent knows little about Christianity, as the Uniate Church is part of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the Byzantine Rite Catholic Church, meaning that their liturgical traditions are Greek rather than Latin," he said.
“Therefore, with Latin Rite Catholics together with these Uniate Catholics, we’re looking at 10% of the population - around four million people in January before the refugee crisis.
“Also, ACN has a track record of helping non-Catholics, especially Orthodox.
"Regardless of these technical details, they are human beings who are facing devastation and death. We are proud to be supporting them.”
Mr O’Brien said that Blanchelande College chose to support a Catholic charity because it is a Catholic school.
“That Aid to the Church in Need was the nominated relief charity was very clearly stated so everyone who donated knew where their money was going," he said.
"The school’s weekly newsletter and Facebook page has also promoted Guernsey-based - non-Catholic - aid appeals.”
Pictured: The Principal of Blanchelande College said that not raising funds for Red Nose Day is simply a matter of no school being able to contribute to all fundraising days and charities.
A second letter to the Committee for Employment & Social Security dated 17 March raised concerns about decisions being made at Blanchelande College about Red Nose Day the following day, 18 March.
“There is one school that will not be doing anything for Red Nose Day,” said the author.
“The Roman Catholic Principal of Blanchelande has again this year censored attempts at the school to have any Red Nose fundraising events.”
Express asked Mr O'Brien if the school actively discourages or prevents Red Nose Day fundraising events.
Mr O’Brien said: “Clearly, the author of these letters has a personal axe to grind and is even prepared to overtly target me on the basis of my religion. I consider this to be offensive.
“Blanchelande’s school charities this year have been chosen by the Head Boy and Head Girl. These charities are Tumaini and Island Search and Rescue.
"Pupils are welcome to wear red noses, etc., but these causes are not our official ones this year.
“No school can support every charity. You have to choose.”
Pictured: The letters of concern were sent anonymously to members of the Committee for Employment & Social Security.
Some Catholic schools in the UK have historically avoided celebrating or raising funds for Red Nose Day.
For example, in 2015, three schools in Wales chose not to support the event because of claims that funds raised as part of Red Nose Day go towards the promotion of abortion services.
This claim has since been refuted by Comic Relief - the organiser of Red Nose Day - which said an examination of its records showed that it had not funded abortion services.
Express invited comment from the Committee for Employment & Social Security but no reply was received before publication.
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