Posted on 11/03/2009 1:08:31 PM PST by GonzoII
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the use of crucifixes in classrooms in Italy.
It said the practice violated the right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit, and ran counter to the child's right to freedom of religion.
The case was brought by an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, who wants to give her children a secular education.
But the ruling has sparked anger in the largely Catholic country, with one politician calling the move "shameful".
The Strasbourg court found that: "The compulsory display of a symbol of a given confession in premises used by the public authorities... restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions."
It also restricted the "right of children to believe or not to believe", the seven judges ruling on the case said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.
'Italian tradition'
Mrs Lautsi complained to the European court that her children had to attend a public school in northern Italy that had crucifixes in every room.
She was awarded 5,000 euros ($7,400; £4,500) in damages.
But many politicians in Italy have reacted angrily.
Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini said the crucifix was a "symbol of our tradition", and not a mark of Catholicism.
One government minister called the ruling "shameful", while another said that Europe was forgetting its Christian heritage.
The government says it will appeal against the decision. The Vatican says it will study the ruling before issuing a comment.
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome says that it is customary in Italy to see crucifixes in public buildings, including schools, despite the constitution saying that there should be a separation of church and state.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Ping!
What if I wan't to believe???
The hijab, though, that will be fine.
“But many politicians in Italy have reacted angrily.”
Politicians? Really?
“Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini said the crucifix was a “symbol of our tradition”,”
For Italy, the Roman Empire was the greatest thing ever.
Each time I see a story like this, I think of Robert Frost’s little couplet:
We dance round in an ring and suppose
While the secret sits in the middle and knows.
Yeah, I’m weird, but it’s what I think of.
Each time I see a story like this, I think of Robert Frost’s little couplet:
We dance round in an ring and suppose
While the secret sits in the middle and knows.
Yeah, I’m weird, but it’s what I think of.
The problem isn't the separation of church and state at the institutional level. A country can withstand that. Probably both are healthier for it.
But separate the church from the people and the nation dies. Separate the church from the people and you may as well take the oxygen right out of the air. We are watching the death of the civilized west, right before our eyes.
The problem isn't merely taking the crucifix out of the classroom, but it is symbolic of something much deeper and potentially much more tragic. Without God, Italy will still be there tomorrow but it will not be Italian. It never occurs to people that their birthright is a gift from God and they can lose it.
“an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi”
Native born or immigrant? You know from .... over there.
Good point.
Shouldn’t maps be changed to reflect the disappearance of countries such as Italy?
The politicians, by means of this quasi separation of church and state, are taking the religious element out of their Italian culture. Religion is an integral part of a culture, whether it is pantheism, atheism, islam, Judaism, Christianity......
By taking away this basic element out of the culture which has been practiced for centuries in Italy, they are destroying the very culture—all their customs, laws and holidays were based on this majority religion.
The Christian mindset which is very different to other paradigms is the only religion in the history of mankind that allowed the most amount of freedom to all systems of belief, etc. By destroying Christianity, you will destroy all the virtues that are enshrined in the religion, like tolerance, love, respect, etc., qualities that are not evident in any other non-Christian countries.
Ah, the convictions of the parents. Until one challenges the Queering of Education.
I personally do not see the EU lasting 20 years. Too many ethnicities and old rivalries. Once it occurs to them that they have given up their souls to the EU — infighting will begin.
I personally do not see the EU lasting 20 years. Too many ethnicities and old rivalries. Once it occurs to them that they have given up their souls to the EU — infighting will begin.
I personally do not see the EU lasting 20 years. Too many ethnicities and old rivalries. Once it occurs to them that they have given up their souls to the EU — infighting will begin.
Sorry — not a double post but indeed, a Triple Post. Oops.
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Ridiculous.
But why are they in secular government schools?
Why do they let the State control education?
No one should be funding secular humanism willingly.
Italy was a predominantly Catholic country. Back in 1920, legislation was passed to install crucifixes in public schools and offices. It's just that simple. This is no longer the case.
Do the kids in Italy get the option to reject Teutonic cult fascism, like global warming?
Guess not.
That cult needs to be rejected with hot bullets and exploding bombs.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Yeah, I’m kind of the opinion Italians ought to tell the European Cabal of Jackballs that they’re a SOVEREIGN nation and uh, they can take their ruling, roll it into a tight round tube-like shape, and put it somewhere.
Finland's media says that Soile Lautsi was born in Finland, then moved in Italy and has 8 years fought against crucifixes in schools as violation of her childrens rights...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.