Cardinal: Pumpkins, Not Crucifixes? [Zenit]

[Catholic_Press]

Responds to European Court Decision on Schools

In European schools, crucifixes are prohibited but Halloween pumpkins are promoted, observed Benedict XVI’s Secretary of State.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone stated this in response to the Tuesday decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which called for the removal of Christian symbols from public school classrooms.

“This Europe of the third millennium only leaves us the pumpkins of the feasts repeatedly celebrated and takes away from us our most cherished symbols,” said the cardinal in an article published in L’Osservatore Romano.

More…

 

[Havard]

Pumpkins aren’t even European, they’re from North America. The original jack o’ lanterns were made from vegetables native to Europe.

 

[choy]

can’t they argue this is a pagan symoblism? therefore religious?

 

[Havard]

can’t they argue this is a pagan symoblism? therefore religious?

I don’t think so. Although the concept behind jack o’ lanterns is based in superstition and may resemble pagan practices, my understanding is that it originated with Irish Catholics some time before the Famine, and that pumpkins weren’t added to the tradition until it crossed the Atlantic. Which brings me back to the point of why pumpkins would be traditionally meaningful to a European?

 

[Undecided]

Actually carving pumpkins was in fact religious in origin. They were originally carved to place a candle into for a soul in Purgatory. Although I don’t really think either should be not allowed at school. Both are cultural and religious icons, it has to be both or neither.

 

[choy]

Actually carving pumpkins was in fact religious in origin. They were originally carved to place a candle into for a soul in Purgatory. Although I don’t really think either should be not allowed at school. Both are cultural and religious icons, it has to be both or neither.

i learned something new today, thanks!

 

[latin_rite]

Well what do you expect from europe. The most backward intolerant race of people on the face ofthis earth? I guess all that inbreeding is coming home t oroost.