‘No’ to Jesus! ‘Yes’ to Barabbas?
Fr Pawel Rozpiatkowski
Does the crucifix, a sign of love and peace, violate human rights? Yes, it does according to the seven judges of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg who decided that the crucifix displayed in the school in Abano Terme near Padua violated the principles of democratic society and the principle of pluralism. In the opinion of the judges the damage the crucifix makes could be even precisely counted. The sight of the crucifix causes pain worth 5,000 euros. But money is not the problem here. This is something more serious and even dangerous. Firstly, the verdict of the Court, protecting the rights of Lautsi Albertin who does not want crucifixes in the school where her children are educated, threatens the rights of 80% of Italians who wish the opposite. Secondly, the judgement concerning the cross is dangerous for the Finnish immigrant. Moreover, it is deadly dangerous for all, without any exceptions, inhabitants of the Old Continent and for others. Why did it happen that the rights of some individual get the upper hand over the right of Christians to freely manifest their faith? It is hard to find a reasonable answer expect that the decision must have resulted from the aversion of the seven judges towards Christianity. This is another evidence for the sentiments of the European elites. The crucifixes allegedly disturbed Lautsi Albertin to ensure secular education of her children. But if we want to protect her against everything that is associated with Christianity we should remove all religious symbols from her sight, i.e. destroy churches, chapels and even change the Finnish flag since it has a cross. Absurd! This is not the first decision of the European institutions that testifies about aversion or even hostility towards Christianity. Sometimes we are made to believe that the European institutions are non-religious whereas more and more premises make us state that they are anti-religious. The followers of Christ are increasingly brutally shown their place. They built the culture of the Old Continent and in ‘New Europe’ they have been given the role of pariahs. ‘New Europe’ is to be deprived of all references to religion, and in particular to Christianity. The new document that will regulate the life of the Community from 1 December 2009 does not include any reference to Christianity. Without Christianity it is hard to speak about the identity of Italian, Irish, Polish, German people, the citizens of the united Europe. The cross unites. It commands people to accept people coming from other cultures and civilisations who increasingly come to Europe seeking a better life. It warrants openness and not isolation. It is a symbol of the greatest love and not an instrument of discrimination.
"Niedziela" 46/2009