Abuja, Nigeria, May 25, 2006 / 22:00 pm
The provincial council of Andalusia in Spain has ordered the removal of all crucifixes from the classrooms of St. John’s School in Jaen, in response to a complaint by a man who said he did not want his children to be exposed to Christian symbols at school.
The decision means that crucifixes can only be displayed during religion class or in the classroom where religion is taught. The council also prohibited any kind of extra-curricular activity related to religion and warned that teachers who disobey the ordinance would be subject to disciplinary measures.
Antonio Aranda, a spokesman from the Diocese of Jaen, said the decision could mean students might not be able to attend presentations on Catholic universities or that nativity scenes would not be allowed to be displayed during Christmas.
“They want the crosses to be removed from the school yet they don’t demand that the school’s name be changed, which refers to a great mystic poet,” Aranda noted.
The bishops of the region of criticized other recent ordinances which could lead to more attacks on the family, human life and freedom of education and religion.