Education Minister Lorenzo
Fioramonti on Monday mooted removing crucifixes from schoolrooms
to underline their secular nature, sparking a huge row.
"I believe in a secular school, I think that schools must be
secular and allow all cultures to express themselves and not
show one symbol in particular," he said.
The idea met stiff opposition from the Catholic Church and
from hard-right League leader Matteo Salvini who dubbed
Fioramonti "a minister more worthy of anarchist squats than
university research".
Fioramonti declined to comment Tuesday saying the row was
"sterile".
Msgr Michele Pennisi, archbishop of Monreale near Palermo,
said the case was a gift for Salvini who "will use it against
the government".
The secretary general of the Italian Bishops Conference
(CEI), Msgr Stefano Russo, said Fioramonti's stance had been
"rash".
"We need these symbols at the preset time. The crucifix does
no harm and does not offend anyone. It absolutely a positive
sign", Russo said.
The issue of crucifixes in schools, courtrooms and other
public spaces has pitted secular and Islamic activists against
Catholic traditionalists over recent years.
The most recent ruling from the European Court said that
"displaying the crucifix does not injure religious freedom".
The Italian association of atheists welcomed Fioramonti's
statement saying "this a good step forwards".
The ruling anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) said
removing crosses from schoolrooms was "not on the agenda".
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