Apparently, the European Court of Human Rights has far, far too much time on its hands.From BBC News:The Strasbourg court found that: "The compulsory display of a symbol of a given confession in premises used by the public authorities... restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions."How exactly does it do that?Italian mother Soile Lautsi - who brought the case - is not prevented in any way from educating her children. Her children have the right to become diehard Catholics or diehard atheists or whatever else they choose. The Italian schools were not mandating that the children pray before the crucifix or making them memorize the Catechism.
It also restricted the "right of children to believe or not to believe", the seven judges ruling on the case said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.
But apparently even the presence of a crucifix offends. Hmm. So I guess one of two things will happen next:
1. The European Court of Human Rights will start banning children from wearing crucifixes in the classroom. Because, well, peer pressure, you know. That might interfere with the kid's choices.
2. We'll learn that Italy - and indeed, much of Europe - is suffering from a high rate of vampirism.
The first is a lot more likely, but the second makes so much more sense.
2 comments:
The wearing crucifixes is a personal choice. Crucifixes in every classroom is another issue entirely. The decision to place this symbol is made by the authorities kow towing to the dogma of the Catholic church. In this respect it is part of the insidious indoctrination of all citizens. Crucifixes belong in churches and not in public buildings. I wholly support the ban.
Keep in mind that France banned students from wearing religious symbols in public schools - including Jewish skullcaps, Muslim headscarves and Christian crosses. But I suppose you would say that is to prevent "insidious indoctrination." ;-)
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