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Italian minister responds to European court: 'We will not remove crucifixes from the classroom'
cna ^ | November 4, 2009

Posted on 11/04/2009 3:24:02 PM PST by NYer

Rome, Italy, Nov 4, 2009 / 10:21 am (CNA).- Italy’s Minister of Education, Mariastella Gelmini, has rejected the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favor of removing crucifixes from public schools.  She stated, “Nobody, much less a European court that is steeped in ideology, will be allowed to strip our identity away.”

The court ruled the presence of crucifixes in classrooms could be a “bother” to students who practice other faiths or who are atheists and that the State should abstain from imposing beliefs in public places. “Religious neutrality should be observed in the context of public education,” the court ruled.

The case was filed before the court by an Italian mother of two boys ages 11 and 13 who attended public school from 2001-2002 in the town of Abano Terme in northeastern Italy.  Crucifixes were hung in each classroom.

After losing in the Italian courts, the woman filed her suit before the European Court, which ruled in her favor and ordered that she be paid 5,000 euros in damages. Italian officials said the ruling would be appealed.

Minister Gelmini rejected the ruling and told reporters, “The presence of crucifixes in the classroom does not signify adhesion to Catholicism, but rather represent our tradition.”

“The history of Italy is full of symbols and if they are eliminated, a part of us will end up be eliminated,” she said.

After noting that nobody “in this country wants to impose the Catholic religion,” she noted that the Italian constitution “rightly recognizes the value of the Catholic religion for our society.”

Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Luca Zaia, also deplored the ruling and said, “The Court has decided that crucifixes offend the sensibilities of non-Christians. It’s the Court that is offending the sentiments of the European peoples who have their origin in Christianity. What an embarrassment!”

In addition, former Minister of Culture, Rocco Buttiglione, said the ruling was “abhorrent.”  He called for it to be strongly rejected saying, “Italy has its culture, its traditions and its history.  Those who come among us should understand and accept this culture and this history,” he added.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: catholic; crucifix; education; italy
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1 posted on 11/04/2009 3:24:03 PM PST by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
Kudos to Minister Mariastella Gelmini!

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 11/04/2009 3:25:06 PM PST by NYer ( "One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
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To: NYer

BRAVO, Italy ...

You do realize you’ll probably get BOOTED from the GReat EU for that...

no great LOSS!!


3 posted on 11/04/2009 3:25:37 PM PST by gwilhelm56 (We exposed and removed the RINO ... BEFORE THE ELECTION.... I want MORE!!!)
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To: NYer

“Minister Gelmini rejected the ruling and told reporters, “The presence of crucifixes in the classroom does not signify adhesion to Catholicism, but rather represent our tradition.”

Where do we get some of the lead that he has in his pencil for our leaders? They could use an infusion...


4 posted on 11/04/2009 3:26:41 PM PST by jessduntno (TOTUS fails and POtuS becomes a phuttering stuck.)
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To: NYer

Dear European Court: Pound sand. Good for the Italians. They are standing up to this BS and preventing it from being imposed on Italy like it was imposed on us. If you don’t believe in karma, look what happened to Madalyn Murray.


5 posted on 11/04/2009 3:27:18 PM PST by La Lydia
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To: NYer

Bravo Italy... tell em to stick it where the sun don’t shine !!!!!


6 posted on 11/04/2009 3:28:51 PM PST by xtinct (The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you..Be Strong Patriots!)
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To: NYer
“Nobody, much less a European court that is steeped in ideology, will be allowed to strip our identity away.”

Well!!!!!

How un-PC!





[Good for Italy. I hope they stand firm.]
7 posted on 11/04/2009 3:28:59 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: xtinct

Bellissimo!!


8 posted on 11/04/2009 3:31:02 PM PST by Batman11 (Obama will dispatch skittle $hitting unicorns around the world to bring peace and prosperity to all!)
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To: NYer

Bravo! Prego! Optimo!


9 posted on 11/04/2009 3:31:20 PM PST by JewishRighter
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To: jessduntno

Agreed, but Minister Gelmini is a she.


10 posted on 11/04/2009 3:31:43 PM PST by Eddings
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To: jessduntno

Italy has many issues but I hope God recognizes and blesses Italy for when push came to shove, they would not deny Christ!


11 posted on 11/04/2009 3:32:01 PM PST by mdmathis6
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To: NYer

EU Court picking a fight with an Italian woman (minister) - big mistake.

God bless Italy and the Italians for standing up to these EU thugs.


12 posted on 11/04/2009 3:32:37 PM PST by Frantzie (Judge David Carter - democrat & dishonorable Marine like John Murtha.)
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To: NYer

Good. I was hoping they’d react like this.


13 posted on 11/04/2009 3:32:46 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: NYer

Take that you anti-Christian organization!!!!


14 posted on 11/04/2009 3:32:54 PM PST by taxesareforever (Release Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich and let him and his family get on with their lives.)
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To: Eddings

Well then...steel in her howitzers then!


15 posted on 11/04/2009 3:33:10 PM PST by mdmathis6
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To: Eddings

“Agreed, but Minister Gelmini is a she.”

It was a metaphorical pencil, you naughty PERSON...


16 posted on 11/04/2009 3:33:23 PM PST by jessduntno (TOTUS fails and POtuS becomes a phuttering stuck.)
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To: NYer

Of course the cowardly tyrants known as the European Court of Human Rights issues this “ruling” after the Irish voted to enter the EU.


17 posted on 11/04/2009 3:34:10 PM PST by cthemfly25
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To: gwilhelm56

You do realize you’ll probably get BOOTED from the GReat EU for that...no great LOSS!!
**********************************************************

Balderdash, It would be a great win.


18 posted on 11/04/2009 3:40:56 PM PST by thedilg
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To: NYer

And in 10 years the EU will come back and make them take them down ...

and the sheeple will comply without a squeak. Or a squawk. Or a bleat.

Or whatever.


19 posted on 11/04/2009 3:43:43 PM PST by DontTreadOnMe2009 (So stop treading on me already!)
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To: NYer

The idea is to remove all symbols, all traditions and make us all equal. Equal to the barbarians who wish to behead us, the ACLU types who hate our freedoms.


20 posted on 11/04/2009 3:48:34 PM PST by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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