The problem with "Union"...

The United States has shown the world that the formation of a Union from individual states can be a painful and prolonged process... but it would seem Europe has ignored this lesson.

A civil court in Strasbourg, France, has determined that the display of a crucifix within a public classroom is a violation of religious and educational freedom. This would seem to be a strictly local affair, symptomatic of the French trend towards secularism at all levels of society... but as of Dec 1st, when the final ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon goes into effect across the EU, that ruling will then have precedence across Europe.

Now, Europeans complaining about Christian faith and symbols is nothing new, I know... but what surprised me about this story was that the loudest voices raised against it are coming from the political leadership in Italy... and from both sides of the aisle! It seems that the former Communist and now left-center leaning opposition leader in the Italian Parliament has joined his voice to the more right-center PM of Italy (a divorcee and avowed atheist) in calling for a reversal of that decision based on the "traditional value" to European society that such symbols hold to millions across Europe.

Why?

Because they (seemingly) fear that the decision of a judge (or judges) in one portion of the Union can suddenly decide the fate of such traditional and fundamental aspects of daily life as a crucifix on a classroom wall across the entire continent.

It would seem that, in the day or so since the decision was handed down in Strasbourg, it first caught the attention of the Italian political machine, but quickly moved up the attention ladder in places like Poland, Ireland, Denmark and Spain, as well. In a region where the public display of faith is as natural to many as breathing, the possibility of government intrusion suddenly rears it's ugly head... and the EU hasn't even picked its President yet! Imagine cities like Armagh, Cologne, Krakow, Salzburg, Milan, Rheims, or Prague DENIED the ability to hold the centuries-old traditional celebrations where the images of beloved saints (and sometimes, even the saints themselves!) are taken from churches and paraded through the city streets to be followed by throngs of the faithful. Honestly, imagine what cities like Santiago de Compostela, Spain, will suffer if "public displays of religion" become a violation of individual rights across Europe, when at any one time, one quarter of that city's "population" is someone visiting the cathedral and shrine from other parts of the world!

With nearly a month to go until the final ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon as law throughout the European Union, it would seem the place is already feeling the liberal pinch as the anti-traditional, secular world begins to take the reigns of control.

Welcome to my nightmare.