The religion that "unmasks science": the controversial leaflet to recruit students at IES Llorenç Villalonga

PalmaThe start of the school year at the IES Llorenç Villalonga in Palma, the center chosen to implement the new and questioned Excellence Baccalaureate in Mallorca, has added a new debate. In recent days, the Religion department has distributed a two-page document among students and their families that argues the reasons for taking Catholic Religion and Morals (one hour per week), accompanied by a form from the head of studies to request a change of the "alternative" subject option. The content of the text has aroused suspicion in the educational community due to the terms in which it defines public education and the rest of the academic disciplines. The document details throughout 16 points the value that the subject theoretically contributes to the post-compulsory stage, entering into pedagogical, emotional, and linguistic aspects that go beyond the usual curriculum of the subject.

In addition to the controversy over the theological content, the distribution of the campaign itself has caused a stir for organizational reasons. The promotional sheet has been distributed widely along with an official document titled 'Request for change of elective subject' for the current 2026-2027 School Year, issued by the institute's own head of studies.

The situation has caused nerves and laughter in equal parts among members of the educational community. According to authorized sources in the education sector who spoke to this newspaper, "all centers offer it [Religion] and families choose it in May-June. Once the school year has started, changes are exceptional and must respond to highly justified reasons." The issuance of the form to encourage the transfer of students to the Religion list once the lists and schedules are closed represents, according to the same sources, an unprecedented organizational irregularity to favor a specific subject.

The point that closes the document (number 16) attempts to standardize the working environment in the classroom. The text formally commits to "creating a relaxed, cheerful, and positive environment in class," noting that this will be done by using "a sense of humor, surprise, and admiration." This state of mind is not incidental, but is proposed as the basis for the comprehensive educational process of children in order to seek principles such as "beauty, truth, and goodness and unity as guiding principles that must be sought throughout life."

In point 9, the text delves into the role of the subject within the general educational system. It is stated that, especially in Baccalaureate, the subject is oriented towards the transmission of knowledge with an approach that "seeks to humanize and complement the academic learning of the public school." This formulation has caused some astonishment, as it implies that the ordinary and secular curriculum of the public network requires an external confessional complement to achieve basic humanistic values such as dignity, effort, work, and freedom.

Sciences and humanities, a "fallacy"

Point number 12 defends the "integrative character" of the subject, and grants it a "backbone and unifying" function within the school curriculum. The document asserts that the subject of Religion "continually flies over and unmasks the fallacious division of subjects between science and humanities." This consideration of "fallacy" regarding the separation of scientific and humanistic fields has caused surprise, especially as it is framed within a program that precisely seeks to promote high academic performance. In this same line, point 10 maintains that science and faith do not represent a conflict, but are "two sides of the same coin, two wings of the human spirit" necessary for the knowledge of reality and the contemplation of truth.

Another striking aspect of the promotional document refers to the "cultural and linguistic growth" of the student (point 11). Despite having only one teaching hour per week, the text asserts that the subject enriches the student with Greek and Latin etymologies, knowledge of "related languages (Italian and French, basically)" and even claims that a "small foray into Hebrew will be carried out in Baccalaureate". The circular concludes by encouraging parents and students to ask for more information to process the transfer of records to the confessional subject. "It seems that, if you are not Catholic, you do not work on all these points at the educational center. We still allow preachers in the centers," assure the same authorized sources in the education sector.