“The ruling of the European court was received in the Vatican with shock and sadness,” said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, adding that it was “wrong and myopic” to try to exclude a symbol of charity from education.
The ruling by the court in Strasbourg, which Italy said it would appeal, said crucifixes on school walls — a common sight that is part of every Italian’s life — could disturb children who were not Christians…
“This is an abhorrent ruling,” said Rocco Buttiglione, a former culture minister who helped write papal encyclicals.
“It must be rejected with firmness. Italy has its culture, its traditions and its history. Those who come among us must understand and accept this culture and this history,” he said.
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Sorry Italy, you gave it up when you went all in for the giant, Euro-social experiment. Reap what you sow.
Bishop on November 3, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Because militant secularism has been working so well for the rest of Europe thus far…
Kataklysmic on November 3, 2009 at 9:01 PM
So it begins. You want that RFID on the hand or in your pinneal gland?
abobo on November 3, 2009 at 9:02 PM
How do you say “Dear European Court, cram it with walnuts” in Italian?
Patrick S on November 3, 2009 at 9:04 PM
If I was an Italian citizen, my response would be so:
Italy to European court : Go screw.
ThePrez on November 3, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Dear Italy:
If you lie down with dogs …
johnsteele on November 3, 2009 at 9:05 PM
And the Czechs finally sold their soul earlier today.
misslizzi on November 3, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Don’t worry, laws are optional in Italy.
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Didn’t Dave Mustaine write a song about that?
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 9:08 PM
I don’t know but I’d love to hear it.
abobo on November 3, 2009 at 9:10 PM
If Italy told them to take a flying f* – what sanctions could they impose? And frankly, I would hold it against countries individually that participated in sanctions against Italy.
Blake on November 3, 2009 at 9:10 PM
basta!
pseudonominus on November 3, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Test it. Put a crescent in the classrooms with a few muslim students and see what the overlords say.
Bishop on November 3, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I think the literal term you are looking for is “Va’fan’culo”.
Ciannaky on November 3, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Wow. Governing out a cultural tie to a specific religion for the sake of not offending “the children”.
JCred on November 3, 2009 at 9:45 PM
True, but, in reality, it is up to each country to determine just who gets in.
OldEnglish on November 3, 2009 at 9:53 PM
What did Italy expect? Imagine if the ACLU was allowed to pick judges for SCOTUS. We all know what would happen…
Theworldisnotenough on November 3, 2009 at 9:57 PM
That’s what you get for giving up your national sovereignty you morons.
The EU is a liberal, secular collective run by radical left wing elites. They have their values and spit on yours.
Daemonocracy on November 3, 2009 at 9:58 PM
I wonder if the mafia would start whacking Euroweenies?
Theworldisnotenough on November 3, 2009 at 9:58 PM
DAMNIT, and the Czechs had so much potential. I bet Obama waffling on missile defense scared them into joining the EU, which is actually more dangerous than Russia.
Daemonocracy on November 3, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Time for our Italian friends to leave the EU.
Scribbler on November 3, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Pretty soon they’ll get what they’ve always desired. A Godless world where evil runs unrestrained. If you think this world is Godless and evil now just wait until after the rapture. Ooh.
apacalyps on November 3, 2009 at 10:43 PM
EuropeanUnited Nations court toItalyAmerica: Get the crucifix out of the classroomComing soon…
The Dean on November 3, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Same thing will happen to Ireland now. Which foolishly approved the Lisbon treaty. That is the only other country where Catholicism is the official religion. Happens to be mine too, in Kentucky, USA.
wildcat84 on November 3, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Actually, Catholicism is not the official religion of Ireland. Ireland, like the United States, has a Constitution which enshrines freedom of religion and the policy that the state may not favor any religion over any other.
In addition, Italy no longer has a state religion, and has freedom of religion.
If you want a country with Catholicism as the official religion, try Monaco.
If you want a country with Catholicism as one of the officially sanctioned religions, try Luxembourg.
If you want countries which have a church tax on Catholics, most of the Scandanavian and Germanic countries qualify.
I’m a Catholic but I’d sure hate to have my religion be the state one — too much rendering unto Caesar and unto God at the same time. Faith flowers best in adversity.
unclesmrgol on November 4, 2009 at 1:24 AM
The EU doesn’t want the competition.
29Victor on November 4, 2009 at 5:28 AM
The irony is that in every school in Germany classes in religion are mandatory.
Plus in Germany there is church tax taken out of one`s pay check. (One can opt out, but you have to fill out a form saying why and pay a fee to do so.)
albill on November 4, 2009 at 6:18 AM
Those crosses on the cult centers are offensive too. They must be replaced by immigrant friendly signs like the crescent moon.
Annar on November 4, 2009 at 6:43 AM
Sovereignty.
RD on November 4, 2009 at 7:41 AM
THIS is what Obama wants. If the insane Obama and his band of world government-loving merry marxists had their way, the UN would control EVERYTHING you do(down to the thermostat in your home), AND they’d redistribute your money to other countries for your abuse of the planet. Imagine giving up our national sovereignty to these nutjobs in the UN? Jeez.
marklmail on November 4, 2009 at 8:08 AM
If the EU forces Christ out of Italy the end will be in sight.
TheBigOldDog on November 4, 2009 at 8:52 AM
“Two Italian laws dating from the 1920s, when the Fascists were in power, state that schools must display crucifixes.”
ROFL!!!
Norman Blizter on November 4, 2009 at 9:03 AM
I wonder if the burkas and headscarves will be similarly banned from display in public schools as well as yarmulkes and wiccan symbols?
.
Nothing I read in this article indicates that parochial Roman Catholic schools had to obey this edict. So, the solution is to make education less available to the secular public and more available to the parochial interests, if people really want to continue religious observance in schools.
.
I can guarantee that if Muslim kids are forbidden to wear their religious garb they will be educated in other non-secular venues.
ExpressoBold on November 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM