EU Parliament Debate on Religious Symbols.

This is a debate that took place in the European Parliament in Brussels on December 15th 2009. It followed a controversial decision by the European Court of Human Rights, which was reported by gloria.tv (Gloria TV News on the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo) as well as other news outlets. The Court ruled that the displaying of crucifixes in public schools in Italy was a violation of the rights of non-believers and that Italy had to change this situation in three months. Italy has since appealed the ruling and has shown no sign of willingness to comply with it.

This debate in the EU parliament took place in December. It was initiated under the argument presented by Italian politicians that this decision was a violation of the principle of subsidiarity.

North Americans who may be unfamiliar with the term 'subsidiarity' may be more familiar with the concept of state/provincial rights versus federal rights, or the rights of the citizen verses the rights of the state. 'Subsidiarity' is a founding principle of the EU and it holds that all of the member states will not lose control of their own affairs and sovereignty through the larger superstructure of the European Union.

The argument introduced here was that the European court, by contradicting the democratic will of the Italian electorate, was breaking the principle of subsidiarity.

Christians dominated this debate, however, there were a few voices in favour of the silly ruling. Some of them even argued that the crucifix somehow harmed the rights of citizens.

(In Chair: Isabelle Durant, Belgium, Greens/European Free Alliance)

Speakers:i) Mario Borghezio, Italy, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Party

ii) Antonio Cancian, Italy, Christian democrat

iii) Jacques Barrot, France, Vice-President of Commission

iv) Mario Mauro, Italy, Christian democrat

v) Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Spain, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

vi) Sophia i'nt Veld, Netherlands, Alliance of Democrats and Liberals for Europe

vii) Mirosław Piotrowski, Poland, European Conservatives and Reformists

viii) Manfred Weber, Germany, Christian Democrats

ix) Joanna Senyszyn, Poland, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

x) Carlo Casini, Italy, Christian Democrats

xi) Miroslav Mikolášik, Slovakia, Christian Democrats

xii) García Consuegra Agustín Díaz de Mera, Spain, Christian Democrats

xiii) Georgios Papanikolaou, Greece, Christian Democrats,

xiv) Anna Záborská, Slovakia, Christian Democrats,

xv) Magdi Cristiano Allam, Italy, Christian Democrats (*<- this is the former muslim who was baptized by pope Benedict on Easter 2008)

xvi) Csaba Sógor, Romania, Christian Democrats

xvii) Diane Dodds, United Kingdom, Non-attached member

xviii) Jacques Barrot, France, Commission Vice-President

All Glory to God