Multiple members of Parliament from north-west England have signed a letter to Most Rev Archbishop John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool, opposing a plan to fold more than 200 Catholic schools into academy trusts.
Eight MPs, including Christian MP for Lancaster and Wyre Cat Smith, have signed the open letter to Archbishop John, questioning the plans and asking whether pupils will benefit.
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP, posted on Facebook that she and Maria Eagle, MP for Liverpool Garston, have reportedly had a meeting with the Archdiocese voicing concerns.
Barker, Eagle and Smith have been joined by seven other MPs in signing the letter: Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside; South Ribble MP Paul Foster; Maya Ellis of Ribble Valley; Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers and Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols.
Barker posted on the social media site on Tuesday 10 November, writing: "I am pleased that other NW colleagues have joined in opposing the plans. Thanks to all the parents who have shared their objections with me & I look forward to continuing to work together on this issue."
She raised the issue of how finances would be managed under academy trust governance and whether pupils, particularly pupils with special educational needs, would benefit.
Academies have greater freedoms over their curriculum, term times and admission policy, and are not run by the local authorities, often the county council.
Archbishop John has called Catholic schools a vital part of the Church's educational mission and declared the proposal as a measure that he thinks protects Catholic education 'for future generations'.
Sherrington said: "I believe we are better together, working together to serve the mission, having greater support for staff and keeping control of our educational system for the future generations of Catholic children and others. Together, we are a constellation of stars offering hope in our Archdiocese."
The Diocese of Lancaster has said the plans guarantee 'high-quality Catholic education'.
There have already been strikes in Lancashire and Merseyside over the plan, and the trade union, the National Education Union, says that members at St Austin's Catholic Primary School in Liverpool have unanimously voted for strike action. Preston, Fleetwood and Liverpool schools have also taken industrial action.
More strikes will take place from late November to early December if an agreement isn't made.