"It's time to celebrate our faith-based schools, instead of just accepting them reluctantly or suggesting we shouldn't have them."  Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond made this statement in a newspaper interview on 22 June 2007.

At last, we hear a refreshingly mature view being espoused by a leading Scottish politician when most tend to shy away from the subject and when Scotland's newspapers regularly feature letters and opinion pieces which question the relevance of Catholic schools.

Will this signal a sea change in political opinion in Scotland?  Will the First Minister honour his promise "to celebrate the achievements of Catholic schools in Scotland"?

Will media commentators show the same maturity in their comments - not only on Catholic schools, but on the prospect of a Muslim school being established in Scotland?

Has the time come for Scotland to grow up as a nation and show a more relaxed attitude towards faith schools?

Perhaps reaction to the First Minster's Lecture: 'Celebrating Catholic Education in Scotland' on 2nd February 2008 will tell us more.