The Areopagus 11-25-09
posted by Phil Lawson
11-25-09
Recently, I mentioned a European Court’s ruling forbidding crucifixes in Italian classrooms. This drew strong reactions from Italy along with Poland and Greece.
It was noted that Crucifixes were forbidden in Poland under Communist rule—and now another outside organization is trying to do the same thing. “During Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday in Warsaw, Poland's (President) Kaczynski said that "nobody in Poland will accept the message that you can't hang crosses in schools.’
‘One shouldn't count on that. Perhaps elsewhere, but never in Poland,’Kaczynski said.”
Meanwhile, in Italy, a number of the provinces have responded by having Crucifixes put up in classrooms and refurbishing the ones that are already there.
Long term, the odds don’t seem in favor of these Christian expressions—given the track record of transnational organizations/agreements—but you have to admire their spirit—and indeed not going down without a fight!
Here’s the rest of the story:
Italian Mayors Order Crufixes Put in Classrooms in Revolt against European Court Ruling
Polish president and Greek Orthodox Church also hit out at decision against crucifixes in classrooms
By Hilary White
ROME, November 17, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Poland's president, Lech Kaczynski and the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church have both hit out at a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) attempting to ban the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools. At the same time, a general revolt against the ruling in municipalities all over Italy has been started by public officials, who are now ordering the display of crucifixes in schools, and levelling fines for non-compliance.
The November 3rd ECHR ruling, made in response to a complaint by an Italian secularist campaigner, said that the display of crucifixes violated the religious rights of pupils.
During Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday in Warsaw, Poland's Kaczynski said that "nobody in Poland will accept the message that you can't hang crosses in schools."
"One shouldn't count on that. Perhaps elsewhere, but never in Poland," Kaczynski said.
The reaction from Poland has touched a national nerve in a country where crucifixes and other religious symbols were banned under the atheistic communist rule and are now a prominent symbol of national sovereignty.
Lech Walesa, the former president and leader of the Solidarity movement that eventually freed Poland from its Soviet-controlled communist dictatorship, challenged the court ruling in a TV interview Thursday, saying, "We must respect minorities but also protect the rights of the majority."
At the same time, Archbishop Ieronymos, the Archbishop of Athens and primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece has also spoken out, urging all Europeans to oppose the ruling, saying the court is ignoring the role of Christianity in forming Europe's identity. The Greek Church has intervened in the case in response to a Greek citizen whose son is studying in Italy, the BBC reports.
The reactions from Greece and Poland reflect the warning made recently by UK legal expert Neil Addison, who told LifeSiteNews.com that, because of the intricacies of European Union law, the Italian crucifix ruling is likely ultimately to affect all 27 member states.
Addison, an author and expert on anti-discrimination law, said that if the Italian government loses their appeal, the ruling could result in the enforced exclusion of all public displays of Christian symbols all over Europe. Addison specifically warned that in countries like Greece and Cyprus, the common display of icons in public places would be under threat.
In fact, since the November 3rd ruling was announced, a secularist activist group in Greece, the Greek Helsinki Monitor, has called for a similar ruling to be applied to that country. The group is urging trade unions to challenge the presence of religious symbols in Greek schools.
The BBC reports that the Orthodox Church plans to hold an emergency Holy Synod to hash out a plan to oppose the ruling.
Meanwhile, Italian papers are reporting a general revolt across the country against the Strasburg ruling. All schools in the League Monza in the Lombardy region, have been given seven days to ensure that crucifixes are displayed in every classroom. The mayor of Besana in Brianza, Vittorio Gatti, signed an order levelling a €150 fine for non-compliance.
Mayor Gatti said, "We will give principals time to adjust, but then the order will be respected."
In a statement published on the municipality's website, the mayor referred to the ECHR decision, saying, "We believe that the crucifix is a symbolic expression in Italy of the religious origin of such important civic values as tolerance, mutual respect, enhancement of the person, freedom, solidarity and rejection of any discrimination."
"I believe I have decided the right thing. I have always seen crucifixes in schools and I believe we should have respect for our traditions and defend them against those who do not even know what they're talking about," Gatti said.
The mayor of Priverno in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy, signed an order which provides for the maintenance of crucifixes in classrooms of primary schools throughout the municipality. Mayor Umberto Macci, instructed the municipal police to check that crucifixes are in place, with non-compliance to be fined €500. Citing 1924 and 1927 regulations on school furniture, which provided for the display of crucifixes in schools, the mayor said they are "an expression of fundamental civic values and Italian cultural values."
The mayor of Ascoli Piceno in the in the Marche region near the central east coast, said the crucifix expresses "in a symbolic way, the origin of religious values of the republican constitution. I am referring to freedom, mutual respect, appreciation of the person, solidarity and the rejection of any discrimination."
Mayor Guido Castelli cited state laws that agreed the display of crucifixes in classrooms "does not seem open to criticism over the principle of secularism" of the Italian State.
Phil’s Tidbits:
In a true spirit of ecumenical collaboration, a group of 148 leading Evangelicals, Catholics and other Christians has drafted and issued what they are calling the “Manhattan Declaration.”
http://demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers
This is a Christian expression on the sanctity of human life, marriage, and the need for religious liberty / conscience protections.
The signees include leaders from across the Christian spectrum including: Archbishops Dolan and Chaput, Charles Colson, Dr. James Dobson, Peter Kreeft, and George Weigel.
It is the type of collaboration that can and must happen if Christians are to work together to positively affect the culture. The fact that such a collaboration took place is a great sign of hope among Christians—and the potential for future unity which Christ calls us toward.
And lest you think there is no work to be done on the moral issues of the day—including marriage, take a look at this:
My wife came across this in the newspaper—relationship advice column:
“I’m deciding whether to use a private investigator to keep an eye on my fiance’s bachelor party. Family members say that if I feel I need to, I shouldn’t marry him. Friends say it’s good to see what he’d do if tempted. Your thoughts?” Thankfully the columnist, in less forceful terms then I would’ve used, advises this dear young lady to listen to her family and have a good conversation with her fiance’.
Children invariably suffer the worst from evil in the world and the many sins of adults. Pope Benedict recently requested prayers for these innocent victims.
Benedict XVI Asks Prayers for Children
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is asking prayers for all the children of the world, especially those who suffer, and he is urging the international community to be committed in responding to the problems that affect childhood.
The Pope made this appeal today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. His exhortation marked the 20th anniversary of the U.N. convention on the rights of the child, approved Nov. 20, 1989.
"My thoughts go out to all the children of the world, especially those who live in difficult conditions and suffer because of violence, abuses, illness, war and hunger," the Holy Father said.
"I invite you to join yourselves to my prayer and, at the same time, I appeal to the international community so that efforts will be multiplied to offer an adequate answer to the tragic problems of childhood," he continued. "Let not the generous commitment of all be lacking, so that the rights of children will be recognized and their dignity be increasingly respected."
Finally, the US bishops get to have some fun too at their recent meeting.
From Zenit.org:
Baseball
In a test run of the electronic voting system, a question was put to the prelates: Was your favorite baseball team in the World Series this year?
Laughter arose from the crowd as the results were tallied: Some 75% of the bishops indicated that neither the New York Yankees nor the Philadelphia Phillies had their allegiance.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
God Bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
Recently, I mentioned a European Court’s ruling forbidding crucifixes in Italian classrooms. This drew strong reactions from Italy along with Poland and Greece.
It was noted that Crucifixes were forbidden in Poland under Communist rule—and now another outside organization is trying to do the same thing. “During Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday in Warsaw, Poland's (President) Kaczynski said that "nobody in Poland will accept the message that you can't hang crosses in schools.’
‘One shouldn't count on that. Perhaps elsewhere, but never in Poland,’Kaczynski said.”
Meanwhile, in Italy, a number of the provinces have responded by having Crucifixes put up in classrooms and refurbishing the ones that are already there.
Long term, the odds don’t seem in favor of these Christian expressions—given the track record of transnational organizations/agreements—but you have to admire their spirit—and indeed not going down without a fight!
Here’s the rest of the story:
Italian Mayors Order Crufixes Put in Classrooms in Revolt against European Court Ruling
Polish president and Greek Orthodox Church also hit out at decision against crucifixes in classrooms
By Hilary White
ROME, November 17, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Poland's president, Lech Kaczynski and the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church have both hit out at a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) attempting to ban the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools. At the same time, a general revolt against the ruling in municipalities all over Italy has been started by public officials, who are now ordering the display of crucifixes in schools, and levelling fines for non-compliance.
The November 3rd ECHR ruling, made in response to a complaint by an Italian secularist campaigner, said that the display of crucifixes violated the religious rights of pupils.
During Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday in Warsaw, Poland's Kaczynski said that "nobody in Poland will accept the message that you can't hang crosses in schools."
"One shouldn't count on that. Perhaps elsewhere, but never in Poland," Kaczynski said.
The reaction from Poland has touched a national nerve in a country where crucifixes and other religious symbols were banned under the atheistic communist rule and are now a prominent symbol of national sovereignty.
Lech Walesa, the former president and leader of the Solidarity movement that eventually freed Poland from its Soviet-controlled communist dictatorship, challenged the court ruling in a TV interview Thursday, saying, "We must respect minorities but also protect the rights of the majority."
At the same time, Archbishop Ieronymos, the Archbishop of Athens and primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece has also spoken out, urging all Europeans to oppose the ruling, saying the court is ignoring the role of Christianity in forming Europe's identity. The Greek Church has intervened in the case in response to a Greek citizen whose son is studying in Italy, the BBC reports.
The reactions from Greece and Poland reflect the warning made recently by UK legal expert Neil Addison, who told LifeSiteNews.com that, because of the intricacies of European Union law, the Italian crucifix ruling is likely ultimately to affect all 27 member states.
Addison, an author and expert on anti-discrimination law, said that if the Italian government loses their appeal, the ruling could result in the enforced exclusion of all public displays of Christian symbols all over Europe. Addison specifically warned that in countries like Greece and Cyprus, the common display of icons in public places would be under threat.
In fact, since the November 3rd ruling was announced, a secularist activist group in Greece, the Greek Helsinki Monitor, has called for a similar ruling to be applied to that country. The group is urging trade unions to challenge the presence of religious symbols in Greek schools.
The BBC reports that the Orthodox Church plans to hold an emergency Holy Synod to hash out a plan to oppose the ruling.
Meanwhile, Italian papers are reporting a general revolt across the country against the Strasburg ruling. All schools in the League Monza in the Lombardy region, have been given seven days to ensure that crucifixes are displayed in every classroom. The mayor of Besana in Brianza, Vittorio Gatti, signed an order levelling a €150 fine for non-compliance.
Mayor Gatti said, "We will give principals time to adjust, but then the order will be respected."
In a statement published on the municipality's website, the mayor referred to the ECHR decision, saying, "We believe that the crucifix is a symbolic expression in Italy of the religious origin of such important civic values as tolerance, mutual respect, enhancement of the person, freedom, solidarity and rejection of any discrimination."
"I believe I have decided the right thing. I have always seen crucifixes in schools and I believe we should have respect for our traditions and defend them against those who do not even know what they're talking about," Gatti said.
The mayor of Priverno in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy, signed an order which provides for the maintenance of crucifixes in classrooms of primary schools throughout the municipality. Mayor Umberto Macci, instructed the municipal police to check that crucifixes are in place, with non-compliance to be fined €500. Citing 1924 and 1927 regulations on school furniture, which provided for the display of crucifixes in schools, the mayor said they are "an expression of fundamental civic values and Italian cultural values."
The mayor of Ascoli Piceno in the in the Marche region near the central east coast, said the crucifix expresses "in a symbolic way, the origin of religious values of the republican constitution. I am referring to freedom, mutual respect, appreciation of the person, solidarity and the rejection of any discrimination."
Mayor Guido Castelli cited state laws that agreed the display of crucifixes in classrooms "does not seem open to criticism over the principle of secularism" of the Italian State.
Phil’s Tidbits:
In a true spirit of ecumenical collaboration, a group of 148 leading Evangelicals, Catholics and other Christians has drafted and issued what they are calling the “Manhattan Declaration.”
http://demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers
This is a Christian expression on the sanctity of human life, marriage, and the need for religious liberty / conscience protections.
The signees include leaders from across the Christian spectrum including: Archbishops Dolan and Chaput, Charles Colson, Dr. James Dobson, Peter Kreeft, and George Weigel.
It is the type of collaboration that can and must happen if Christians are to work together to positively affect the culture. The fact that such a collaboration took place is a great sign of hope among Christians—and the potential for future unity which Christ calls us toward.
And lest you think there is no work to be done on the moral issues of the day—including marriage, take a look at this:
My wife came across this in the newspaper—relationship advice column:
“I’m deciding whether to use a private investigator to keep an eye on my fiance’s bachelor party. Family members say that if I feel I need to, I shouldn’t marry him. Friends say it’s good to see what he’d do if tempted. Your thoughts?” Thankfully the columnist, in less forceful terms then I would’ve used, advises this dear young lady to listen to her family and have a good conversation with her fiance’.
Children invariably suffer the worst from evil in the world and the many sins of adults. Pope Benedict recently requested prayers for these innocent victims.
Benedict XVI Asks Prayers for Children
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is asking prayers for all the children of the world, especially those who suffer, and he is urging the international community to be committed in responding to the problems that affect childhood.
The Pope made this appeal today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. His exhortation marked the 20th anniversary of the U.N. convention on the rights of the child, approved Nov. 20, 1989.
"My thoughts go out to all the children of the world, especially those who live in difficult conditions and suffer because of violence, abuses, illness, war and hunger," the Holy Father said.
"I invite you to join yourselves to my prayer and, at the same time, I appeal to the international community so that efforts will be multiplied to offer an adequate answer to the tragic problems of childhood," he continued. "Let not the generous commitment of all be lacking, so that the rights of children will be recognized and their dignity be increasingly respected."
Finally, the US bishops get to have some fun too at their recent meeting.
From Zenit.org:
Baseball
In a test run of the electronic voting system, a question was put to the prelates: Was your favorite baseball team in the World Series this year?
Laughter arose from the crowd as the results were tallied: Some 75% of the bishops indicated that neither the New York Yankees nor the Philadelphia Phillies had their allegiance.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
God Bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
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