According to the US Central Intelligence Agency, about 90% of the population of the country of Italy identify themselves as Roman Catholics, and of that percentage about a third are regularly practicing Catholics. Fox News is now reporting that there is an organized effort to remove crucifixes from classrooms that have traditionally been displayed there for years...
"The Italian government has appealed a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg that would remove crucifixes from Italian public schools.
The government made its appeal today before the Grand Chamber of the Court, in a case that the Vatican and many European nations will be watching closely.
Ten other countries signed on to show their support for Italy in the case, several of them Orthodox strongholds, including Greece, Russia and Cyprus.
The case stems from a woman who argued that that all the classrooms in her children’s school in a small town in Italy – a secular country -- had crucifixes on the wall.
While Italian courts ruled against her, the European Court of Human Rights upheld her argument last November, maintaining there had been a violation of the right to education, as wall as freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The crucifix on the wall, the judgment said, “restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions, and the right of children to believe or not believe.”
Italian officials have argued that the crucifix is not only a religious symbol but also a cultural one, part of the national identity."
The government made its appeal today before the Grand Chamber of the Court, in a case that the Vatican and many European nations will be watching closely.
Ten other countries signed on to show their support for Italy in the case, several of them Orthodox strongholds, including Greece, Russia and Cyprus.
The case stems from a woman who argued that that all the classrooms in her children’s school in a small town in Italy – a secular country -- had crucifixes on the wall.
While Italian courts ruled against her, the European Court of Human Rights upheld her argument last November, maintaining there had been a violation of the right to education, as wall as freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The crucifix on the wall, the judgment said, “restricted the right of parents to educate their children in conformity with their convictions, and the right of children to believe or not believe.”
Italian officials have argued that the crucifix is not only a religious symbol but also a cultural one, part of the national identity."
I really don't see the why they have to be taken down, especially if it is such a component of their society in a cultural way. One can just as easily gaze upon a crucifix and reject the Resurrection account as related by scripture as accept it. It is merely a symbol after all, but one with profound consequences should those who are skeptical not analyze, with an open mind, the events from 2000 years ago at Calvary.
Those who would advocate the removal of such an icon from European classrooms find themselves in such enviable company, as Canada Free Press informs us, as the Nazi Party who in 1941, among other anti-Christian manuevers, advocated the removal of crucifixes from classrooms as well.
All of this points to the larger issue of Western society losing it's cultural identity. The very idea a Massachusetts school student having to fight tooth and nail against the powers that be in order to actually recite the Pledge of Allegiance would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago, but alas, there it is. If nothing else, we certainly do live in interesting times. As our youth are increasingly unaware about what makes our society unique and what our history is, you can bet that their minds will be filled with an alternative view of the world. And you can bet that it's one that isnt very complimentary of our Christian heritage and our positive achievements in the world either.
4 comments:
It would appear that there is an organized movement to ban all symbols of Christianity in schools and public places world wide, and is becoming more pronounced as time passes.
Wouldn't you think there is a reason behind all that? It is pretty obvious in my view.
I find in incredoulus that you find it surprising and merely interesting. It is shocking, scandalous, and very informative.
It is in accordance with the signs of the times as we near the end of this age. Satan is alive and well attempting to eradicate all traces of the true God from this globe.
The why is obvious. I, for one, do not appreciate the crucifix because it keeps Christ on the cross where he is no longer. He is seated at the right hand of God. I would not advocate or celebrate posting a crucifix, but I bemoan the fact thatone person with a suit can cause them to be brought down. If they can take down a crucifix, a star of David, etc. they can attempt to regulate any other aspect of faith.
JD,
As you are well aware, I am sure, the Protest against the crucifix has nothing to do with the right of parents fo educate their children as they see fit. It has everything to do with what it stands for. People know what the cross stands for. They know that it is God's judgment on the world, and thus themselves. They know that the cross convicts them in their Sin and demands repentence all without saying a word! They know that the cross is God's truth- but they reject it.
Better to remove the symbol and continue living in sin, then face facts and repent. If the cross was just another symbol, then why would people fight so vehemently against it? You don't fight that which you don't hate.
The more people fight against Christianity, the more they prove it's Divine origin. "If the world hates you, know that it hated me first. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also, for no servant is greater then his master."
It is not, JD, prosperity which proves the Divine origin of the Church, but rather persecution. The more these people persecute the Church, the more they prove it truly is of God!
How many times have I said it is only going to get worse from here?
The cross is an offense to people who do not want to be reminded of what it signifies, particularly what it says about them.
I Corintians 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. "
vs. 22: "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles"
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