No crucifixes for Italian schools

Today November 3, 2009 the European court announced that crucifixes will no longer be allowed in Italian public schools. The ban was put into effect because crucifixes violate religious and education freedoms. A Vatican spokesman said “the crucifix was a fundamental sign of the importance of religious values in Italian history and culture and was a symbol of unity and welcoming for all of humanity - not one of exclusion.” The court made its decision by saying, “the crucifix could be disturbing to non-Christian or atheist pupils, rejecting arguments by Italy's government that it was a national symbol of culture, history, identity, tolerance and secularism.”