Polish lawmakers criticize EU court’s ban of crucifixes from schools in Italy

Polish lawmakers defend crucifixes in schools

WARSAW, Poland — Polish lawmakers have approved a resolution defending the predominantly Roman Catholic nation’s right to hang crucifixes in public schools.

Lawmakers wanted to voice opposition to a decision by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled last month against the display of crucifixes in Italian schools.

That ruling does not require that Poland remove the crosses that hang in most public schools, but Polish lawmakers fear it could force an eventual review of the use of religious symbols in government-run school across Europe.

The resolution approved Thursday by parliament’s lower house carries no legal weight.