Matthew Xuereb
In defence of the crucifix
Malta urged to support petition
The movement was founded in by Roberto Mezzaroma, a former MEP. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
The government is being urged to support a petition to Unesco to declare the crucifix a ‘Heritage of Humanity’.
The appeal was made by the Movimento Etico Internazionale per la Difesa del Crocifisso (Medic), which was launched in Malta yesterday.
The movement – founded in Rome last year by Roberto Mezzaroma, a former Member of the European Parliament and well-known architect and entrepreneur – aims to lobby for support for the crucifix to be given the recognition it feels it deserves.
The call comes in the wake of the stir caused by the case filed before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) by a Finnish woman and her two sons against the presence of crucifixes in state schools in Italy.
The complainants argued that the presence of crucifixes in state schools was incompatible with the obligation on the state.
However, after initially deciding in their favour, on March 18 the ECHR ruled there had been no violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In light of this declaration, Medic requested the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to declare the crucifix as a ‘Heritage of Humanity’.
The vision of Medic, according to its founder who addressed yesterday’s conference, is to present the suffering Christ on the cross as a symbol of contradiction, love and reconciliation.
Medic is not out to crusade against other religions but rather to encourage people to look up to the crucifix as an image of God-made man, who accepted the suffering and the humiliation of the sacrifice of the cross, Mr Mezzaroma said.
He called on the Maltese government to support the initiative along with other countries which have already expressed their support.
Maltese Milan-based priest Charles Vella is the movement’s ethical consultant. Addressing yesterday’s conference, he gave a brief explanation about why he and Medic believe the crucifix should be given this recognition.
The crucifix was a symbol of unity and solidarity among people, and had been part of the heritage of all humanity for 2,000 years, he said.
For believers, he continued, the crucifix was not just a symbol or icon to hang on the wall, but a spiritual imprint in the hearts of all people of goodwill.
The crucifix, he said, did not only have a religious meaning, but also cultural, civil and social value.
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Gerry Cowie
Apr 3rd 2011, 14:43
The contribution below from Ramon Casha is no more than we might have expected from him - to drag up the past and to find every possible negative tangent to follow in order to attempt to lessen the significance of the Cross in our lives, not to mention his own. Indeed he uses the word "negative" freely.
However Jesus died for Ramon as much as He did for everybody else, and Jesus commands us to forgive those who make such remarks "for they know not what they do!"
Those of us in the majority do not share such views. Whilst Ramon dismisses any other connections at least he has the goodness to admit that the Cross is at the same time a symbol of Christianity, whereas it is rightly seen as the journalist describes in his article as far more.
I suggest a bouquet of prayers be sent up for all those who seek to deny Christ and to attempt to diminish the significance to us all of his death on the Cross including cultural, civil and social values.
Ramon Casha
Apr 3rd 2011, 17:59
"...to drag up the past"
Some of it quite recent past actually.
"...in order to attempt to lessen the significance of the Cross in our lives"
The cross has no significance at all in my life, but to others it is an evil symbol.
"However Jesus died for Ramon as much as He did for everybody else"
He didn't. sorry.
"I suggest a bouquet of prayers be sent up for all those who seek to deny Christ..."
You pray for me, I'll think for you. Deal?
Charles Sammut
Apr 3rd 2011, 14:27
Many more people were exterminated under the symbol of the cross than the swastika. On the other hand, the hammer and sickle might give the cross a run for its money.
Marco Spiteri
Apr 3rd 2011, 17:14
Charles Sammut, I would go back to the history books if I were you. You must be another Christian hater. No other organization in history has claimed more deaths than Islam. This is a proven fact. Just because there were wars in the dark ages and most people were Christian does not mean Christianity advocated murder.
Raymond Sammut
Apr 3rd 2011, 12:57
UNESCO stands for UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. One is obliged, therefore, to question the validity and the appropriateness of the request itself.
First, is this heritage "educational"? At most, the Crucifix may have an educational attribute in a religion class attended by students interested in the history and/or practice of christianity. But in that case, why the Crucifix? Why not Scripture itself, from which the Crucifix is derived?
Second, is this heritage of a scientific nature? I do not think it is considering that the crucifix is not an artifact that features much --if at all-- in scientific publications. At most one may find a reference in the field of, say, archeology.
Third, is this heritage "cultural"? It is cultural in the sense that the physical artifact has been inherited over many generations. But then, so are our chapels, churches and cathedrals.
There are only two qualities that make the Crucifix unique: (1) its definition; namely, the three dimensional requirement of both the cross and the Christ, and (2) its religiosity. None of these can be attributed to education, science, or culture. The first is merely a standard, while the second is outright dogma.
Ramon Casha
Apr 3rd 2011, 11:23
Historically, the symbol of the crucifix has been associated with many negative deeds. To the Jews it was closely linked with the pogroms and the inquisitions, to the Muslims it is linked with both the crusades of the past and the perceived modern Christian-vs-Muslim attitude of the west. To freethinkers it is associated with the burning of "heretics". Of course it is hardly a symbol of unity considering the various Protestant-vs-Catholic wars in a number of countries. To those unaffected by Christianity it is a torture instrument.
As a symbol it simply has too many skeletons in its closet, not to mention that it only has a religious significance, not cultural, civil or social. It is and has always been a symbol of Christianity.
G Borg
Apr 3rd 2011, 13:37
Your comment cannot be biased any more than it is. But then, what can one expect from Ramon Casha? You forgot to mention, 'accidentally', the thousands who were burned, fed to the lions, beheaded, imprisoned,......BECAUSE of their 'crime' of believing in the cross! But for someone who sees ONLY the negative in everything: in marriage, which is suposed to be the crowning of love, you see divorce; in the crucifix, which is the symbol of God's love for us, you see 'skeletons';..........and the list goes on. However, it's a free world, and you are free to see everything from 'your' negative perspective. Enjoy your 'wise' choice!
Ramon Casha
Apr 3rd 2011, 17:56
"Your comment cannot be biased any more than it is."
My comment is not biased at all. I'm pointing out that the crucifix means different things to different people.
"You forgot to mention, 'accidentally', the thousands who were burned, fed to the lions, beheaded, imprisoned,......BECAUSE of their 'crime' of believing in the cross!"
Yes, and presumably for those who identify with those victims, the crucifix is something good. I did not deny that, which is why I'm not saying that Christians should not retain that symbol. What I'm saying is that this attempt to declare it a "Heritage of Humanity" is a blinkered view of one Christian who thinks that the whole world should be Christian too.
"But for someone who sees ONLY the negative in everything: in marriage, which is suposed to be the crowning of love, you see divorce;"
Don't misrepresent me. I have never said anything negative about marriage.
"in the crucifix, which is the symbol of God's love for us, you see 'skeletons'"
If by "us" you mean Christians, then yes. To anybody who is not a Christian, the crucifix represents nothing of the sort.
Andy Farrugia
Apr 3rd 2011, 18:31
Ramon Casha, the case for removing the Crucifix from classrooms has been lost; deal with it!
Ian Grech
Apr 3rd 2011, 10:59
Why should this be? There are so many hugely mistaken assumptions and mis-statements here.
There is more than one religion and not all of them have a crucifix as their central objet d'adoration. So why not the menorah, the black stone in the ka'aba or that sacred tree that some tribe in Borneo holds so sacred?
"The crucifix was a symbol of unity and solidarity among people, and had been part of the heritage of all humanity for 2,000 years, he said." How convenient of him to forget the crusades, the witch trials, the bloody conquest of South America and the church sanctioned enslavement of 'savages' from Africa (among others). If anything the crucifix was a symbol of supremacy for a few arrogant medeival European white men while the rest of the world was happily living their existance in peace and harmony.
G Borg
Apr 3rd 2011, 13:46
It ALL depends on how you look at things, Mr Grech. As I wrote to Mr Casha, you 'accidentally' forgot to mention the thousands who were burned alive, fed toi the lions, beheaded, imprisoned,.....because of their 'crime' of believing in that cross! You also forgot the Polish priest beheaded in Tunisia JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO! Can you enilghten us with what his crime was? And what about the churches burnt in Egypt, Pakistan..... ? The crusades, invasions, and others that you mention ended hundreds of years ago, while christians in today's world are STILL suffering because of their beliefs! The church has moved on from the crusades, invsions,.....it seems that YOU are still stuck in them!
R.Vella
Apr 3rd 2011, 10:51
God works in ways that some people who don't believe just can't understand. I don't blame you and I don't judge you. I just feel sorry for you (for those whom don't believe). Call me a religious fanatic or whatever you want. But when believers sees the crucifix, especially sick children, something helps them. I'm going to keep praying and having faith in God. You wanna know why? Because He takes care of those kids with serious diseases. He helps them through it or takes them home.
A Vella
Apr 3rd 2011, 13:40
Religious fanatic!
Yeah, you know god works in mysterious ways. After making you sick he takes care of you. lol Believe all you want,I don't have anything agains you, I just pity people like you :). For many people god is only an excuse for not helping dear. You know praying can be tougher then actually doing something. If I want a wall painted red, I don't pray, I get some paint and paint it myself. But keep praying, I'm sure you're changing the world to a better place in about... NEVER. Really, it's a shame that people like you feel sorry for me. LOL No one its called blind faith :)
Fabien Sant Founier
Apr 3rd 2011, 13:54
God works in ways that some people who don't believe just can't understand?? ..why would god work in such a non sensical way? Would god not leave the 99 sheep to save the 1 that strayed? What a religion full of contradictions!
Gerry Cowie
Apr 3rd 2011, 09:57
Only those who fear the crucifix are going to make a fuss about this. And that fear is quite simply driven by evil since the crucifix is an instrument of and a reminder of the supreme good whose only opposition is evil.
Joseph Galea
Apr 3rd 2011, 11:37
The crucifix thing does not fear me at all. It only reminds me how those millions of criminals were convicted and killed at those times and how powerful the Roman Empire were during it's reign.
Mr Gerry Cowie, this is called history and not fear.
Louise Vella
Apr 3rd 2011, 09:49
"He called on the Maltese government to support the initiative along with other countries which have already expressed their support."
Where may I find the list of these countries? The movement's website has no reference to such list.
R. Ellul
Apr 3rd 2011, 08:48
Commandment # TWO
You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.' Exodus 20:4
"Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 26:1
Wake up and do not be decieved Jesus Yeshua Has risen He is not hanging on a cross, God does not want His People to make images to bow down to, One is not worshipping Him, One is disobeying Him as that break's the second Commandment.
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth..
Yeshua Jesus wants to be in ones Heart and Mind and He does this by the power of His Holy Spirit . Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Read His Word and ask HIM to show you