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 Most Italian schools sport crucifixes, as a fascist-era law mandating them in schools has never been repealed.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.
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.
-
‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt
-
Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams
