Wednesday February 15, 2006
Italian Judges Rule Crucifix Can Remain in Public Schools
By Terry Vanderheyden
ROME, February 15, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Judges from Italy’s highest court have thrown out a suit aimed at eliminating crucifixes from the country’s public schools, arguing they are symbolic of the Christian values that underpin all principles held dear by secular society.
In addition to its religious significance for the overwhelmingly Catholic country, the Council of State also said the crucifix signified “the values which underlie and inspire our constitution, our way of living together peacefully,” as reported by ANSA. The judges pointed out that most of the values held dear by society such as tolerance and respect had their origins in Christianity. “In this sense the crucifix can have a highly educational symbolic function, regardless of the religion of the pupils,” they wrote in their 19-page decision.
In early February, Italian judge Luigi Tosti was handed a seven-month suspended sentence for failing to perform his duties as a judge after he refused to work in courtrooms that display the crucifix.
Meanwhile, the Union of Italian Muslims (UMI), described by ANSA as a militant Islamic group, has also waged a campaign to have crosses removed from hospitals and schools. UMI leader Adel Smith won a court order in 2003 on the issue, which was later reversed after public outrage at the maneuver.
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