November 05, 2009

Good for Italy!

European court: No crucifixes in Italian schools

By ALESSANDRA RIZZO,

ROME – The Vatican on Tuesday denounced a ruling by the European court of human rights that said the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools violates religious and education freedoms.

In a decision that could force a review of the use of religious symbols in government-run schools across Europe, the court ordered Italy to pay a euro5,000 ($7,390) fine to a mother in northern Italy who fought for eight years to have crucifixes removed from her children's public school classrooms. The Italian government said it would appeal.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the crucifix was a fundamental sign of the importance of religious values in Italian history and culture and was a symbol of unity and welcoming for all of humanity — not one of exclusion.

Full story here.

Not a symbol of exclusion?? Did he really just say that? Out loud?

2 comments:

Sherry Pasquarello said...

amazing.

and then, there's the u.s.a.

geeezzzz

Christine Gram said...

I thought so too, but in reality, it will be a long time before the crucifixes come down, if ever. My Italian husband informs me that this comes up every decade or so and nothing ever changes.

There's even a crucifix on the wall at our bank.