On March 18, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, in the case brought by Soile Lautsi and her two sons against the Italian government, held, by a majority of 15 votes to two, that there had been no violation of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 (right to education) to the European Convention on Human Rights.

The case concerned the presence of crucifixes in state school classrooms in Italy, which, according to the applicants, was incompatible with the obligation on the state, in the exercise of the functions which it assumed in relation to education and to teaching, to respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in accordance with their own religious and philosophical convictions.

In a high school on the outskirts of Milan, a group of students decided to take down the crucifix hanging on the wall of the classroom. Reacting to this, another group painted the crucifix of St Francis of Assisi.

These are not isolated incidents in Italy today. In the Abruzzo, an Italian with an English name made a crusade to remove the crucifix from the hospital.

He even opened a court case in the European Court of Human Rights in support of his argument that the crucifix should not be allowed. And a magistrate wanted the crucifix removed from his courtroom.

As Cardinal Angelo Scola, Patriarch of Venice, said: “Going around the diocese I never found a Muslim who wanted to remove the crucifix, but only small groups of people who had once been baptised as Christians”.

At a meeting in Prato, Tuscany, Bishop Gastone Simone said: “What worries me is not the praying of Muslims but the apathy of Catholics toward the crucifix.”

Mgr Simone was addressing a meeting of the newly founded Movimento Etico Internazionale per la Difesa del Crocifisso (Medic).

The movement was founded in Rome on July 2 last year by Roberto Mezzaroma, a former member of the European Parliament and well established architect and entrepreneur.

Mezzaroma and his wife Evelina for 40 years have carried a heavy cross, having had two disabled children.

Roberto, aged 60, is a very down-to-earth man who believes in action and not just words in defence of the crucifix.

His political European experience has shown him that there are strong trends to eradicate the heritage of the ‘Christian roots’ of our traditions, and various attempts are being made to abolish all Christian signs, mainly the crucifix, the crib and religious manifestations.

Some politicians, doctors, magistrates and teachers are campaigning to remove the crucifix from all public institutions, such as law courts, hospitals, prisons and schools.

An English court decreed that a nurse and air hostess cannot wear a chain with a crucifix while at work.

This campaign is turning into a crusade in some European countries, mainly Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and England.

The vision of Medic, according to its founder Mezzaroma, is to present the suffering Christ on the cross as a symbol of contradiction, of love and reconciliation.

Medic is not out to crusade or to go against other religions. These also have the right to exhibit their symbol, be it the Stars of David or the Muslim Crescent.

Medic seeks to encourage “humanity 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, to identify Himself with the outcasts and emarginated in the world”.

Medic is a lay and international ecumenical movement, open to all, without any religious or race distinction, who out of respect and tolerance, wish to see the crucifix as a symbol of unity and solidarity among people.

Medic already has members from various Christian Churches and non-Christian religions, for the crucifix unites and never divides.

This is why Medic is working hard through governments and its members to petition Unesco to declare the crucifix as the ‘Heritage of Humanity’.

The crucifix has a heritage of all humanity for 2,000 years.

For believers it is not just a symbol or icon to hang on the wall, but a spiritual imprint in the hearts of all people of goodwill.

On February 23, Pope Benedict XVI received a group of members of the movement in a general audience, each one holding the crucifix for the Pope’s blessing.

This is why leaders and members of Medic on February 11, accompanied Roberto and Evelina Mezzaroma to attend a Mass which I celebrated at the tomb of St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio).

At the Mass, Medic placed itself under the guidance of San Pio, who in his life was a living icon of the crucifix.

At the saint’s tomb the members of Medic, on behalf of all its members in various regions of Italy, of Albania, Romania, Monaco, France and Malta, renewed their commitment to accept the legacy left by Padre Pio to embrace the crucifix.

“San Pio reminds all the faithful of any status and level,” Archbishop Michele Castore said, “that they are called to a full Christian life and charity”.

The tomb of St Pius of Pietrelcina has become the spiritual headquarters of Medic, Mgr Castore said, for through him the movement “from a small seed” may become the ‘Heritage of Humanity’ hoping for the support of all people of goodwill.

A presentation on Medic will be held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana, on Saturday at 10 a.m. by Richard Muscat, Mgr Vella, Prof. Henry Frendo, Fr Peter Serracino Inglott, Dr Anne Vella, Dott. Giorgio Silli, and Roberto Mezzaroma.

charlesvella@alice.it

www.charlesvella.it

Mgr Vella is Medic ethics consultant, founder of the Cana Movement in Malta and author of various works on the family and marriage.