Court overturns crucifix ban in Italian schools

THERE is no evidence that having a crucifix on classroom walls has any religious influence on pupils and it is not a violation of their rights, the Court of Human Rights has ruled, overturning a previous decision banning them in Italian state schools.

The Vatican welcomed the judgement from the Strasbourg-based Court which followed a case brought by a Finnish mother living in Italy and her two sons.

Soile Lautsi, a non-believer who lived near Padua in northern Italy, said the religious symbols contradicted the separation of church and state as Italy has been a secular state since 1985, and violated their rights.