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Catholic World News News Feature

French National Assembly passes religous symbols ban February 11, 2004

France's National Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban the wearing of certain religious symbols in public schools. The Senate is expected to take up the bill on March 2.

The Assembly voted 494-36 for the bill, which was primarily aimed at headscarves worn by Muslim girls for religious reasons, but will also apply to Jewish skullcaps and "large" Christian crosses. French President Jacques Chirac announced the proposed bill last December as a way to combat what is seen as a growing Muslim fundamentalist minority in France. The country has the largest Muslim population in Europe.

The bill was mainly opposed by the opposition Socialist Party, some members of the centrist Union for French Democracy, and a few other lawmakers. Large demonstrations against the proposed ban have been held across France, drawing tens of thousands. However, it is not just Muslims alone who oppose the measure. Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris noted in January that some Catholic students and civil service employees have been the object of harassment recently for wearing Christian jewelry, including medals and crosses.