Kathimerini
November 25, 2009
Justice Minister Haris Kastanidis admitted yesterday that Greece will have no choice but to remove religious icons from school classrooms and other public buildings if the European Court of Human Rights stands by a ruling it made earlier this month.
“If the European Court of Human Rights sticks to its original decision that religious symbols should be removed from all public buildings, then I think our country will have to adapt to the new situation arising from this decision,” said Kastanidis in response to a question from right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) MP Asterios Rondoulis.
However, Kastanidis added that any change to the status quo, which sees icons of the Virgin Mary hung in classrooms, courtrooms and public service offices, would take place “only after agreement has been reached with the Church of Greece.”
However, it seems that the Church is highly unlikely to concede to the removal of icons or crucifixes from buildings.
The Church of Greece reacted angrily to such suggestions when it emerged earlier this month that the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the presence of crucifixes in classrooms was a breach of human rights after hearing a case brought by a mother from Italy.
“It is not only minorities that have rights, the majority has them as well,” said the head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, adding that the matter would be discussed by the Holy Synod if necessary.
“Youngsters will soon not have any symbols to inspire and protect them,” said Bishop Nikolaos of Fthiotida. Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki said he hopes Greek officials will appeal any decision by the court in Strasbourg.
The European court found that the right of parents to educate their children according to their own beliefs, and children’s right to freedom of religion, were breached by the presence of a crucifix in classrooms.
November 25, 2009
Justice Minister Haris Kastanidis admitted yesterday that Greece will have no choice but to remove religious icons from school classrooms and other public buildings if the European Court of Human Rights stands by a ruling it made earlier this month.
“If the European Court of Human Rights sticks to its original decision that religious symbols should be removed from all public buildings, then I think our country will have to adapt to the new situation arising from this decision,” said Kastanidis in response to a question from right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) MP Asterios Rondoulis.
However, Kastanidis added that any change to the status quo, which sees icons of the Virgin Mary hung in classrooms, courtrooms and public service offices, would take place “only after agreement has been reached with the Church of Greece.”
However, it seems that the Church is highly unlikely to concede to the removal of icons or crucifixes from buildings.
The Church of Greece reacted angrily to such suggestions when it emerged earlier this month that the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the presence of crucifixes in classrooms was a breach of human rights after hearing a case brought by a mother from Italy.
“It is not only minorities that have rights, the majority has them as well,” said the head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, adding that the matter would be discussed by the Holy Synod if necessary.
“Youngsters will soon not have any symbols to inspire and protect them,” said Bishop Nikolaos of Fthiotida. Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki said he hopes Greek officials will appeal any decision by the court in Strasbourg.
The European court found that the right of parents to educate their children according to their own beliefs, and children’s right to freedom of religion, were breached by the presence of a crucifix in classrooms.
5 comments:
It`s outrageous! U.E. tries to change us into creatures without identity or personality. No one believes that they care about people`s feelings when they impose on us, Christians, the removal of our religious symbols. Why the governments of the christian countries ever agreed with this inacceptable law? The people must oppose now, before it is still time. Otherwise our liberty will gone completly.
What an outrage!
If the Greek Government succeeds in the EU desire to remove all icons from Public buildings then we will see the Hand of God leave Greece ... i would not be suprised if bad things start to happen to our country.
What are the Greek people doing about it? leaving it all to the Church of Greece to fight? Why arent we in an uproar over this and supporting the Church?
That is what has made the Greek people famous from the founding of Orthodoxy in our land ... our strength and united identity and our love to fight for Orthodoxy! That is why God blessed our land - it was in our blood to fight for Orthodoxy and now we have an obligation to our forefathers to do the same.
We should not allow ourselves to be governed by the Masonic "way of thinking" ...
As we fought the Identity Card ... lets fight this ... this is a form of martyrdom!
I would like to point out something that I have not heard people address. With this ruling, European Courts beleive that no religion is to dominate over the other, in a public place.
That said, now let's examine what the outcome will be, by removing the Christian Icons from their location. There will be nothing to replace them, thus the European Courts are forcing us Orthodox Christians to honor the Religion of Nothing (Atheism and Evolution), since they replace Orthodox Christianity with Nothing.
It sound to me that the European Courts are trying to force us to switch to a New Religion!!!!
With their own decision, they ar violating their own beleifs, of not forcing one religion over the other.
We have to stop this madness!!!!!!
A jewish law, no doubt
this is Satan taking over your land just as it is sweeping in the United states...I am united with you people of Greece...America has been faltering ever since they have taken God out of almost everything for what this country once stood for...Now we are being over taken by the power of Satan and his Imps and im afraid we are all heading for one gigantic train wreck...
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