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Italian Supreme Court of Cassation, Labour Section, No. 19618/2020, 18 September 2020

Abstract

Display of the crucifix in the public school classroom.

Normative references

art.19, art. 33 Italian Constitution 
art. 1 Legislative Decree 16 April 1994, n. 297 
art. 2087 Italian civil code

Ruling

It should be forwarded to the First President for the possible referral to the United Sections the case relating to the display of crucifixes in public school classrooms, since a solution must be found to the conflict that arises between freedom of teaching (as the teaching autonomy and free cultural expression of teachers who do not profess the Christian religion) and respect for the moral and civil conscience of pupils, especially when it is they themselves who have admitted the display of the religious symbol in the classrooms.