More than 300 parents have filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights challenging a compulsory anti-Christian curriculum in Spain’s public and private schools that promotes liberal sexuality with graphic imagery while openly bashing the Catholic Church.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Christian legal alliance, and Professionals for Ethics, a Spanish pro-family group, announced that they have filed suit with the European Court on behalf of 300 parents and 105 children regarding a controversial curriculum known as “Education in Citizenship.” 

More than 54,000 parents have already registered complaints with the government about the program which is mandatory for all 10- to 16-year-old students attending public and private schools. Parents are not permitted to opt children out of the class.

Parents and pro-family organizations have filed more than 2,200 lawsuits against the government, with an overwhelming majority of the decided cases falling in favor of parental rights; however, the same subject matter continues to be taught in schools.

“The state shouldn’t usurp the right of parents to raise children according to their beliefs. Forcing students to participate in values training contrary to their convictions is a violation of basic human rights,” said ADF Legal Counsel Roger Kiska, who is based in Europe. “It is not the government’s role to dictate what private and public school students should believe by imposing anti-religious views and advocating sexual libertinism, homosexual behavior, and abortion.”

The suits argue that the compulsory nature of the objectionable classes violate the conscience rights and religious convictions of parents and students alike. Some materials covered in the classes subject students to explicit sexual images and graphic content denigrating Christianity.

“Americans should take note of this case because this sort of situation is not restricted to Spain,” said Mr. Kiska. “Many parents would be dismayed to know that there are organizations in the U.S. that have attempted to persuade school districts to use similar types of curriculum. If the Spanish government is allowed to continue this instruction, it only emboldens arguments that the U.S. should follow suit.”