Comments on: UPDATE: Uproar after court says no crucifixes in Italian schools

By: sidney

sidney — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:17:40 +0000

If we were to replace the crucifix with say a burqa, hijab, star and crescent or other symbols representing islam, there would be no uproar and people would actually applause this ruiling.

By: Noah Idea

Noah Idea — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:09:19 +0000

There is nothing in the bible, or church rules, that a person must wear a crucifix.

So not being allowed to wear one is simply a restriction of personal choice. Not religious freedom.

By: Mufaso

Mufaso — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:31:36 +0000

If the schools are secular, then absolutely no religious symbols belong there. This includes pariotism as well, since patriotism is a religion. No flags, no statues, no monuments, no nothing.

By: TheraP

TheraP — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:29:06 +0000

Snark alert: How can children possibly learn in a room without a crucifix?

Sadly… many will believe my question is NOT snark at all!

More snark… Thank you for giving me proof that I am a person! (the anti-spam word…)

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:03:33 +0000

The quotation above “The presence of the cross…religious minorities” from Para 55 of the Judgement leaves out the important words and thus the judgement is less clear. Here is a ham translation of the missing words:

“The presence of the Cross could easily be interpreted by pupils of all ages as a religious sign and they might feel that they were being educated in a school with a particular religion.”

The Italian govt argued that the Crucifix was not a religious symbol but a ethical symbol representing self giving and peace etc and that the Italian State, which was “laique” had freely left the crucifix in classes in order to find a compromise with Catholics in Italy (see para 42) and not for religious reasons.

This argument seems contradictory. The State does not view the crucifix as a religious symbol but leaves it in the classrooms to compromise with those who do regard it as a religious symbol. So the State does understand that the crucifix does is an important religious symbol in eyes of many Italians but it’s up to one’s own ideas whether it is a religious or ethical symbol.

I hope Italian Catholics will strongly protest this judgement and demand the State keep the crucifix in classrooms of Italian schools.