Vatican Favors Teaching of Islam in Italian Schools
By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
09 March 2006
The Vatican said it was in favor of Italian schools providing lessons on
Islam for Muslim children. The cardinal in charge of the Vatican's
department for Justice and Peace said he saw nothing wrong with the
inclusion of an hour on Islam in school timetables.
The Catholic Church said it will not stand in the way of Muslim children
learning about the Koran in Italian schools. Cardinal Renato Martino,
president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said
the cultural and religious identity of the children attending schools in
Italy must be respected.
The cardinal was speaking at a meeting titled "The Ways of Peace" under way
at the French cultural center in Rome. He was responding to a request made
this week by the Islamic Council for Muslim children to be able to have
lessons in their own religion.
The Islamic Council is a body with only advisory powers, which includes 16
representatives of the Muslim community set up by the Italian government
last year as a bridge between the Italian state and the growing Muslim
community.
The Italian prelate said, "If in a school there are 100 Muslim children, I
don't see why their religion should not be taught. This is simply respect
for human beings."
Cardinal Martino said Europe and Italy have reached a level of democracy and
respect for others and it cannot go back. Only dialogue and religious
freedom, he added, can avoid fundamentalism. He said all religions are for
peace and seek co-existence and collaboration wherever possible.
The president of the Union of Islamic communities in Italy, Mohamed Nour
Dachan welcomed Cardinal Martino's statements, praising the path of
"dialogue and reciprocal respect" he said was launched by Pope John Paul II
and continued by Benedict XVI.
The Italian representative of the World Muslim League, Ambassador Mario
Scialoja, reacted differently. While appreciating the openness shown by the
Church, he said Italy is a secular state and it would be better to set up an
hour when children looked at the history of religions. Otherwise, he added,
soon Buddhists and Hindus will want their own hour of religion as well.
Italian public schools have a statutory hour for religious education every
week. Until now it has been exclusively based on Catholic teachings and
beliefs. Parents are allowed to withdraw their children and have them do
something else during the lesson if they wish.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-03-09-voa47.cfm
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