Lega Nord Calls for Crucifix Display in Brescia Schools Amid Cultural Debate
The Lega Nord members of Umberto Bossi, Islam, and the crucifix. This is the triangle that encapsulates the terms of the issue raised by a initiative of the leader of Lega Nord at the Desenzano town council.
Rino Polloni, highly active on the administrative front with wide-ranging initiatives that include regulating relay antennas and respecting “privacy” in hospitals, has now focused his attention on the display of the crucifix in school classrooms.
His stance is clear. The crucifix must be displayed in schools: no doubt, no concessions for free choice or secularism.
He insists that the provisions of the Royal Decree 965 of 1924 be followed, which in Article 118 states that the presence of the crucifix is mandatory in school classrooms.
With this conviction, yesterday he took pen and paper and sent a letter to the Provveditorato agli studi di Brescia, addressed to Dr. Antonino Zenga, and to the Province, to be forwarded to Ing. Mauro Parolini, and sent ahead by fax.
Contents of the request and considerations
Well, he calls for an “end to the Islamic advance.” This consideration stems from the observation that in various regions, some school principals, directors, and provincial education officers would tacitly consent to the pressing demands of Islamic communities that seek the abolition of the crucifix in school classrooms.
According to the Council of State, section II, of April 27, 1988, the aforementioned regulation cannot be considered implicitly repealed by the new concordat regulation on the teaching of Catholic religion.
The Council explicitly states that: “Apart from its significance for believers, the cross represents the symbol of Christian civilization and culture, in its historical root, as a universal value.”
The Lega councilor requests that the provincial education authority verify that in every classroom of all schools in Desenzano — nursery, elementary, lower and upper secondary schools — as well as in all schools across the province of Brescia, crucifixes are displayed.
If any deficiencies are found, he requests that the image of the crucifix be immediately restored and that the measures be maintained over time as established by the Council of State.
We can only wait for the response from the provincial education authority to the request made by the Lega councilor of Desenzano, which, as far as we know, was formulated on a personal basis.
Currently, there is no evidence of an official position taken by the local Lega on the matter.
This does not preclude the issue from being of general importance and deserving of consideration accordingly.
Rino Polloni recalled the opinion of the Council of State from twelve years ago, regarding a decree from 1924 that would not have been repealed by the new concordat rules.
The legal question raised can only be examined by experts. Our role is solely to bring it to everyone’s attention.