The nine Catholic Bishops in Northern Ireland have issued a statement, taking issue with planned reforms of Northern Ireland's education system.
The bishops say the changes would pose a serious threat to the rights of parents to choose a Catholic education for their children.
The British government has been looking at the use of resources and the costs involved in the North's education system.
For some time the Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, has been hinting about the need for significant change, including school closures and amalgamations.
Earlier this week a review with radical recommendations was published by a government-appointed expert, Sir George Bain.
But the response from the Catholic Bishops in the North, including Archbishop Sean Brady, is an attack on the proposed changes.
They claim the reforms would radically undermine the Catholic education system.
One of the recommendations would remove powers from the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.
However, Mr Hain appears determined to press ahead with change because he feels the way resources are used in the North would not be tolerated elsewhere in the UK.
