Cardinals attend a Catholic rally of hundreds of thousands Spaniards in central Madrid, Dec. 30, 2007. (Andrea Comas/Reuters)
In Spain, some push to rid classrooms of religious symbols
Proposed ban stirs debate over religion in traditionally Catholic, but technically secular, Spain.
MADRID, Spain — A crucifix over the blackboard. An image of the Virgin Mary presiding over a classroom full of students. These pervasive Catholic symbols, still present in some Spanish public schools, may soon become things of the past.
The Ministry of Justice, in charge of religious affairs, has been considering a ban on religious symbols in the classroom — something Francisco Caamano, minister of justice, first mentioned to the media in August. Debate subsequently ensued over the role of religion in traditionally Catholic, but technically secular, Spain, and then intensified in September with the start of the schoolyear and again this month when the European Court of Human Rights ruled on a similar case in Italy.
The issue originally surfaced in 2008 with a controversial court decision, which stated that Macias Picavea, a public school in Valladolid, was to remove all crucifixes from classrooms and common spaces. The school’s council, composed of teachers and parents, had voted to maintain the religious symbols which dated back to the establishment’s 1930 inauguration. But a group of parents felt the symbols violated fundamental rights such as freedom of conscience. They took the case to court and won.
“It’s a matter of democratic health,” argued Carlos Parrado, president of the Lay School Cultural Association in Valladolid. "Public schools are a space for everyone, people of different faiths or no faith. A symbol that doesn’t represent everyone has no place. Why that particular symbol and not another?”
The court's ruling — which the regional government has appealed and is now pending the regional High Court’s final decision — declares that religious symbols in public schools violate the Spanish Constitution. The decision reiterates that there is no state religion and “the State can neither adhere to nor support any creed.”
The court decision also asserts that education is “particularly sensitive” to the issue of religious freedom, because what minors learn “decisively influences their future behavior about beliefs and inclinations.” Religious symbols in the public school may induce minors to feel “the State is closer to the faith those religious symbols represent” than to other religions, the court document says.
The Spanish Constitution, dating from 1978, guarantees freedom of religion and specifies that “no religion shall have a state character.” Though Catholicism does get a special mention: “Public authorities shall take into account the religious beliefs of Spanish society and shall consequently maintain relations of cooperation with the Catholic Church and the other faiths.”
I am a descendant of the Mexican Cristeros.
When Freemasons entered Mexico to slaughter Catholic Priests and their sympathizers, our men took to wearing large crucifixes on the outside of their shirt (about 3 inches in size).
The Freemasons in Spain want to attack Christ and His mother? Send boys to school and everywhere in public with crucifixes on the outside of their shirt, and have girls wear an image of our Lady.
To the chagrine of Freemasons, they were not able to destroy Holy Mother Church in Mexico.
This will also help families focus on what is most important; without the Cross, their is no salvation, without the Cross, there is no Church, without the Cross, there is no life.
May God our Lord in His infinite and supreme goodness be pleased to give us His abundant grace, that we may know His most holy will, and entirely fulfill
*
Recent on Spain :
The Fantastic Five: Best photos of the week
News Desk - General - January 23, 2010 09:16 ET
Best pictures include a Madrid storefront, aid delivery in Haiti and an aboriginal Australian Elvis impersonator.
On Location: Oujda — Death in the Sahara
Solana Pyne and Erik German - Morocco - January 21, 2010 21:41 ET
8 wacky holiday traditions
Laurie Cunningham - America and the World - December 23, 2009 08:32 ET
Americans aren't the only ones whose traditions are a cause for raised eyebrows.
Video: Immigrant soccer in Spain
Maria Jose Calderon - Spain - December 22, 2009 09:23 ET
Green technology: From steel mills to wind farms?
Cindy Skrzycki - Commerce - December 21, 2009 08:44 ET
A Spanish wind turbine maker puts down roots in Pittsburgh. Yes, Pittsburgh.
Spain's Christmas lottery is still "El Gordo"
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - December 18, 2009 06:52 ET
In tough times, Spaniards trim trees, just not their lottery ticket purchases.
Spain's latest export: Gay-friendliness?
Michael Moffett - Spain - December 16, 2009 06:59 ET
Affinity with Spain is paving the way for equality in other Latin American countries.
Japanese flamenco queen does Spain
Michael Moffett - Spain - December 10, 2009 06:46 ET
Spain's northern coast pioneers wave energy
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - December 9, 2009 09:43 ET
But that isn't good news for everyone in Arminza, where residents recall when nuclear power nearly came to town.
Where the turkey is called chompipe and other Thanksgiving stories
News Desk - Worldview - November 26, 2009 12:40 ET
Tales from Thanksgivings on four continents, not including North America.
In Spain, some push to rid classrooms of religious symbols
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - November 24, 2009 07:01 ET
Proposed ban stirs debate over religion in traditionally Catholic, but technically secular, Spain.
What feta and reindeer meat have in common
Paul Ames - European Union - November 13, 2009 08:53 ET
Serbs become the latest to worry that their ethnic cuisine will be registered by an EU country.
A kick in the buck
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - November 13, 2009 06:25 ET
Why the elimination of a tax break could spell the end of glory days for Spanish club soccer.
Spanish teens fight for their right ... to par-tay.
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - November 9, 2009 09:21 ET
Botellones, or binge-drinking parties, persist in Spain despite bans, complaints and the odd cooking class.
How un-Spanish can you get?
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - October 30, 2009 13:13 ET
Why it might take more than a bullfighting ban to put an end to the centuries'-old custom in Catalonia.
Nuclear energy might not be on its way out in Spain after all
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - October 26, 2009 05:33 ET
The extension of a power plant's life in Spain heats up debate about the value and role of nuclear power in tomorrow's world.
Spain strives for American appreciation
Michael Moffett - Spain - October 13, 2009 17:42 ET
Will Prime Minister Zapatero's visit to the White House give Spain a nudge on the international stage?
Binge drinking among Spanish teens on the rise
Cristina Mateo-Yanguas - Spain - October 12, 2009 06:21 ET
In a troubled society, traditions make it easy to look the other way.
It ain't over till Vaclav Klaus sings
Teri Schultz - European Union - October 9, 2009 19:34 ET
The Irish have given their all-important "aye" to the Lisbon Treaty, but another obstacle exists: the anti-EU Czech president.
Watch GlobalPost videos:
Reporter's Notebook
Some argue that bullfighting is on its way out in Spain, especially in Catalonia, where a proposed bullfighting ban may become a reality in the...Read more >
Spain woke up Wednesday morning to a mix of fear, relief and indignation. A car bomb parked next to a 14-story building of Guardia Civil offices and...Read more >
This year’s Gay Pride parade poster shows a triangle similar to the traffic sign warning to watch out for children crossing the road. The...Read more >
Featured: Special Projects
Oceans:
Assessing their health
After the Fall:
20 years since the Berlin Wall came down
Life, Death and the Taliban:
Videos and stories
Study Abroad:
Students report from the road
Living in the Shadows:
An intimate look at China's migrant workers
A World of Trouble:
The global economy in 20 hotspots
Comments:
1 Comments.
Login or Register to post comments