Posted on 11/04/2009 7:24:23 AM PST by george76
Italians reacted with outrage on Tuesday after a European court ruled that displaying crucifixes in the country's schools violated the principle of secular education.
Italy's education minister condemned the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights, saying that the Christian cross was a symbol of the country's Roman Catholic religion and cultural identity.
Mariastella Gelmini, a member of the conservative government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, argued that "no one, and certainly not an ideological European court, will succeed in erasing our identity,"
Other ministers said they were appalled by the ruling, calling it "absurd," "shameful" and "offensive."
Generations of Italian children have grown up studying in classrooms in which a wooden or metal crucifix looms above the blackboard. But Italy has been transformed in the past two decades from a country that exported migrants to one that has accepted around 4.5 million economic refugees and asylum seekers from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The influx of foreigners has led to deep-seated tensions, particularly with ... Muslim immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East.
The court upheld a complaint filed by Soile Lautsi, a Finnish woman who lives in Italy and has Italian citizenship, who complained that her children had to attend a state school in a town near Venice which had crucifixes in every classroom.
The court awarded her $7,400 dollars in "moral damages," which will have to be paid by the Italian government unless it is successful in an appeal. The judges stopped short of ordering authorities to remove crucifixes from all state-run schools, and the long-term implications of the ruling were unclear.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Don’t worry they’ll be forced to display Moslem symbols soon.
Move back to the sand and rubble if you don’t like civilization.
This is future, unless you take back your sovereignty and return to being Italians and not "Europeans"
Silly minister - christian culture doesn't count.
What? They cant toss out their illegals, either?
It serves these leaders right..you let the illegals stay..and this is what you get. Are they learning anything? Nope.
Amen to that. And if we dont watch out..we will be headed that way ourselves.
Give up sovereignty and this is what you get.
Baby steps!
Mariastella Gelmini, a member of the conservative government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, argued that “no one, and certainly not an ideological European court, will succeed in erasing our identity,”
He should have said - OK, now send in your court army and try and enforce it.
Basically what we should say to court ruling and judges here like with the water issues up north.
The court upheld a complaint filed by Soile Lautsi, a Finnish woman who lives in Italy and has Italian citizenship, who complained that her children had to attend a state school in a town near Venice which had crucifixes in every classroom.
As Andrew Jackson once said of our own supreme court...
"They have made their decision, now let them enforce it".
He should have said - OK, now send in your court army and try and enforce it.
Note to Italians: This is why you don't yield your sovereignty to anyone, especially eurotrash organizations dominated by muzzies!
Wow - more of this to come, for sure.
Prediction: The Treaty of Lisbon will plunge European states into civil upheaval before long, as citizens demand that their nations withdraw.
What an atrocious ruling.
It didn't take long did it? Sickening.
as citizens demand that their nations withdraw.
Geez....what happened to “When in Rome”.... ?
I hate liberals who impose their views on everyone.
You don't see courts banning things Muslim much do ya?
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