private. Perhaps you're stuck, but nobody says you've got to bow down or chatter through the spells. Maybe it's best to observe, take notes and write about what's wrong or ridiculous later. Grab the education, ignore the circus. There's no future in the martyr industry. Darwinsbulldog 4th May 2010, 01:38 PM Hi all, this is my first post here, and it's regarding a serious issue for me. First of all, I'm in year 11 at a catholic school in Victoria and I'm a passionate atheist. My parents are both secular and I was never baptised. I am personally apalled and offended by the Catholic church and their practises. My parents wanted me to have a private education, however there is no secular private schools in my region, so I was forced to go to a catholic school in that regard. I have had to go to many school masses, however I am sick and tired of going to their celebrations when I have no belief in it. Now here's my question. Does the school have the right to force me to celebrate and participate in their masses even though I am an atheist? If I am found out to be skipping masses (as I have been doing) I will have to face the principal and possibly be told to leave the school. I have participated (painfully) in RE classes since year 7 which is fair because I signed up to the catholic school system, but I think it is unconstitutional