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The Vatican welcomed as “historic” a ruling by the European Court of Rights that said displaying crucifixes in schools in Italy did not breach the rights of non-Catholics.
“It is an important and historic ruling,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement, adding that the decision “has been welcomed with satisfaction by the Holy See.”
Speaking on behalf of the government, Franco Mfattini, Italy’s Foreign Minister also welcomed the ruling. “Today Europe’s popular sentiment won out,” he said.
The court over-ruled a previous decision and was passed by 15 votes to two.
Lombardi said the court recognised “that the exhibition of the crucifix is not indoctrination but the expression of the cultural and religious identity of countries of a Christian tradition.”
It also recognised “that the culture of human rights must not be inconsistent with the religious fundamentals of a European civilisation in which Christianity has made an essential contribution,” Lombardi said.
The case was brought by an Italian mother who was unhappy that crucifixes were on display in every classroom in a state school.
Friday’s ruling by a higher court is final.
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News category: World.
