Crucifixes in school
The week's news at a glance.
Rome
A crucifix on the wall in an Italian public kindergarten must come down, an Italian court ruled this week. Most Italian schools sport crucifixes, as a fascist-era law mandating them in schools has never been repealed. But this summer Adel Smith, a Scottish immigrant who converted from Catholicism to Islam, brought a case against the government, saying that such Catholic symbolism was oppressive to his Muslim children. The judge agreed, but many in the Italian government did not. Education Minister Letizia Moratti said that not only should public schools display crosses and crucifixes, but the government should also fund Catholic schools. And President Carlo Ciampi said the crucifix was “a symbol of the values that are at the base of our Italian identity.” Italy is overwhelmingly Catholic.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Time-honored political tactic: Throw your wife under the bus'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Best non-alcoholic spirits for summer cocktails
The Week Recommends As hard liquor takes a backseat for many, the ingredients for the perfect mocktail are dryly delicious
By Ellie O'Mahoney, The Week UK Published
-
Will Biden's tariffs hinder China's EV dominance?
Today's Big Question Climate change goals and American jobs in tension
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published