The International Committee of Young Fine Gael (YFG) has condemned the recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that crucifixes should not be displayed in Italian public schools. 

The court ruled that the display of crucifixes in public schools ‘violated the principle of secular education and might be intimidating for children of other faiths.’ 

In response, a Young Fine Gael delegation sponsored a resolution calling for the European Union to respect the right of European schools to continue to display Christian symbols, following the principles of subsidiarity. 

The resolution, which was put forward at a recent meeting of the Young European People’s Party, was passed by the delegates present. 

In proposing Mr. Colm Lauder said: “Europe is historically, traditionally and culturally Christian and that as a member of a Christian Democratic party, and I believe these values and traditions should be respected.” 

Mr. Lauder added that the resolution “reaffirms the importance of cultural and traditional values in Europe, and the need for these to be protected”. 

The European Court of Human Rights, Mr Lauder continued, should be fighting intolerance, instead of encouraging it with rulings which ban religious symbols from public schools.