MORE THAN HALF ITALIANS IN FAVOR OF SCHOOLROOM CROSSES

MORE THAN HALF ITALIANS IN FAVOR OF SCHOOLROOM CROSSES

(ANSA) - Rome, January 29 - More than half of Italians support the display of crucifixes in classrooms and public buildings and oppose a recent European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling ordering their removal, a new study reported Friday.

The poll by Eurispes socioeconomic think-tank showed that Italians had not changed their minds on the Christian symbol since last surveyed in 2006, with 60% still in favor of leaving them in place.

Around 12% responded they saw no reason to take down crucifixes unless they offended other peoples' religious sensibilities.

At the same time, the number of Italians against the public display of crosses rose from 10% to 17% with a corresponding decrease in the number of people still undecided on the issue.

The ruling ordering the removal of crucifixes in schools and government buildings has been the source of considerable debate in Italy since the Strasbourg court announced its decision in early November.

Upholding an appeal from a Finnish-born Italian mother, the court ruled that parents must be allowed to educate their children as they see fit.

It said children were entitled to freedom of religion and said crucifixes in classrooms might offend or frighten students brought up in other religions.

The ECHR has no power to force states to comply with its rulings and Italy has ignored several decisions by the Court in the past.

Crucifixes are a fixture in Italian public buildings although the postwar Constitution ordered a separation of Church and State, and Catholicism ceased to be Italy's state religion in 1984.

In 2004 Italy's Constitutional Court ruled that crosses should stay in courts and classrooms but did not give a legal justification for its ruling.

The Strasbourg-based ECHR upholds the 1950 Convention on Human Rights for the 47-member Council of Europe, the continent-wide human rights body.