Removal of statues is an act of intolerance

THE HSE has removed religious statues from two hospitals in Killarney (Irish Examiner, March 10).

At worst, their action is intolerant. At best, it is insensitive. Their decision reminds me of a recent court case in Italy which ruled that the display of the cross in a school room was offensive to atheists.

That ruling is in contempt of the international will of the people.

Symbols of the main world religions appear on the flags of many nations. There are 27 EU states (and that number continues to increase).

More than a quarter of them incorporate the cross into the design of their national flags.

They are, in alphabetical order, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Malta, Slovakia, Sweden and Britain.

International and EU treaties have established their right to carry the cross on their flags.

Sometimes narrow interpretations of the letter of the law can miss the wider picture. Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees every person the freedom to practice his or her religion.

Michael Mernagh

Raheens

Carrigaline

Co Cork