Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and politicians of left and right were united with the Vatican on Wednesday in condemning a European court ruling that crucifixes displayed in schools are a breach of human rights.
Berlusconi judged “unacceptable” the European Court of Human Rights ruling in response to the case of an Italian mother opposed to the hanging of crucifixes on classroom walls.
He said on national TV that the decision “is unacceptable for us Italians” and called it “one of those decisions that makes us doubt the good sense of Europe.”
The Vatican’s Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone complained that “Europe leaves us with the pumpkins from recent celebrations,” referring to Halloween, and it “takes away those symbols that are most important to us.”
Pierluigi Bersani, head of the main left wing opposition Democratic Party, also joined the assault, saying “common sense has become a victim of the law.”
‘ERRONEOUS’
The liberal Italy of Values party called the ruling “erroneous.”
The Strasbourg court found that the right of parents to educate their children according to their own beliefs, and children’s right to freedom of religion, were breached by the crucifix in classrooms.
They could also be “disturbing for pupils” from other religions and ethnic minorities, the court found, declaring a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Italian bishops’ conference denounced the court as “partial and ideological.” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Church reacted “with astonishment and regret.”
“The crucifix has always been a sign of God’s love, unity and hospitality to all humanity. It is unpleasant that it is considered a sign of division, exclusion or a restriction of freedom,” he said.
Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini said the cross was part of Italian tradition.
“No one, and certainly not an ideological European court, will succeed in erasing our identity,” Gelmini said. “The presence of the crucifix in classrooms is not a sign of belief in Catholicism, rather it is a symbol of our tradition.”
The government has said an appeal will be made.
Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, said the ruling aimed to “wipe out our Christian roots.”
ICON
Bishops’ conferences around Europe also weighed in against the decision, with the Portuguese saying the crucifix was “part of Western culture” and also “an anti-violence icon.”
The German bishops’ conference said the decision “ignores the true significance the crucifix holds in our society.”
In 90 percent Catholic Poland, Archbishop of Gdansk Slawoj Leszek Glodz was unequivocal, saying: “This is another attempt to rip God from the hearts of the people.”
RSS