High Government Official Recommends Catholic School to Remove Crucifixes and Avoid Prayers

Country: Spain

Date of incident: November 27, 2004


The inspector recommended to a Catholic school to remove crucifixes and other religious symbols from the classrooms as well as ceasing morning prayers and other expressions of faith.

The Federación de Religiosos de Enseñanza y Centro Católicos de Castilla-La Mancha (Catholic Federation of Schools and Religious Centers in Castilla-La Mancha) has issued to its members a warning against the request made by an inspector from the Spanish Education Counsel to a Catholic School. According to Sebastián Villalobos Zaragoza and José Zazo Sánchez, members of the Federation, the inspector recommended the removal of crucifixes and other religious symbols from the classrooms as well as ceasing morning prayers and other expressions of faith. The media reports the inspector highlighted the need to develop a neutral and laity education, and to avoid that people who do not share the Catholic faith, feel uncomfortable. The authorities of the Federation expressed their surprise given that freedom of religion and right of association is guaranteed in the Spanish constitution and several international treaties. Source: http://agenciajai.mforos.com/418065/2572115-inspector-de-educacion-pide-retirar-los-crucifijos-de-una-escuela-catolica/