HAVANA, JAN. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).-Calling it «new repressive action against believers» in Cuba, Vatican Radio said Havana´s primary schools have barred from class those students who use religious objects.
«Crosses, holy cards, medals, scapulars and other religious articles are disallowed in the schools, despite the parents´ rejection [of the measure] and their appeal to the Ministry of Education, challenging the norm,» Vatican Radio´s Spanish weekly news service reported today (http://www.radiovaticano.org).
Ministry of Education sources stated that the measure was adopted in order to avoid religious expression from «obstructing» the political-ideological formation given to students.
One of the parents interviewed said, «The officials agree that the measure is persuasive, not absolute, and said they would take up the matter with those who imposed it because the loss of classes is very harmful to students.»
