"The government recognises that religious education has a distinctive and unique contribution to play in teaching children about the beliefs and values underpinning our understanding of ourselves and what is right and wrong, our sense of belonging and respect for each other, " she said.

BBC: Religion pulls in GCSE students

Lenders have a right to be repaid, but this makes its net contribution look far less impressive than that of other rich countries.

ECONOMIST: Japan does less than other rich countries to help the poor

Thus the new pope would make a major contribution to shoring up the cultural foundations of the democratic project if he would press the case for the inalienable right to life while expanding the Church's already-extensive services for women in crisis pregnancies and those in need of compassionate, dignified end-of-life care.

WSJ: What to Look for in a New Pope

It is important both in its own right and for its contribution to many other goals, including the UN Millennium Development Goals and the realisation of universal human rights.

UNESCO: Purpose/Objectives of the Chair