The Roman Catholic church this week urged the Government to reconsider its decision to allow 16-year-olds to opt out of religious worship in schools.
It followed a pledge by ministers to amend the 60-year-old laws governing school prayers.
Oona Stannard, chief executive of the Catholic Education Service, said:
“Prayer, reflection and contemplation provide the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of modern day living”.