Romanian Council Says Religious Symbols Should Be Removed From Schools

Ekklesia yesterday reported that in Romania churches have criticized a Nov. 21 ruling by Romania's National Council for Combating Discrimination. The ruling called for a ban on most religious symbols in schools. A complaint was filed before the Council by a parent, Emil Moise. He said that Orthodox icons in his daughter's classroom at Margareta Sterian Art High School in Buzau violated the constitutionally protected right of freedom of conscience and religion and the principle of separation of church and state. In response, the Council ruled that the education ministry should "prevent discrimination towards agnostic pupils" by requiring schools to limit faith symbols to religious education classes and to "spaces specially assigned for religious instruction". The Prime Minister has referred the Council's ruling to Parliament. This Wikipedia article discusses the ruling at length.