VATICAN TO WAIT FOR CROSS RULING

VATICAN TO WAIT FOR CROSS RULING

(ANSA) - Vatican City, November 3 - The Vatican said Tuesday it would await the exact wording of a landmark European ruling against crucifixes in classrooms before making a formal response.

''I believe reflection is needed before commenting,'' said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.

In its first such ruling, the European Court of Human Rights found that crucifixes in Italian classrooms were a violation of parents' rights to educate their kids according to their principles.

Upholding a plea from a Finnish immigrant to Italy, the Strasbourg-based court also said the crosses ran counter to a child's own rights to freedom of religious choice.

The Italian government, which said it will appeal the ruling, was ordered to pay Lautsi, an Italian citizen, 5,000 euros in ''moral damages''.