The Bavarian court orders the removal of a cross from a public school, and the interior minister attacks the decision.
A decision issued by the Higher Administrative Court in Bavaria has sparked widespread controversy in Germany, after ruling that a public high school must remove a cross hanging at its entrance, based on a request made by two former students. The court found that the presence of the cross constitutes a violation of what is called "negative freedom of religion," meaning a person's right not to be forced to deal with religious symbols that conflict with their beliefs or non-belief.
The cross, which is 1.5 meters tall, was placed in a very prominent location at the entrance of the school and features a statue of Jesus Christ crucified. The two students who filed the lawsuit had previously requested the removal of the cross during their studies, but the school did not respond, prompting them to first approach the administrative court in Munich, which rejected their request, and then the higher administrative court, which upheld their demands.
The ruling sparked strong political reactions, especially from the ruling party in Bavaria "CSU" and its partner "the Free Democrats", who considered that the cross represents part of the Christian-Western cultural identity of the region and symbolizes values such as love and mercy. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, a member of "CSU", strongly criticized the decision despite admitting that he had not read its text yet, stating in an interview with "Welt TV": "To those who say that the crosses should be taken down, we say: we want to hang them up." He added that the school could simply move the cross to another entrance if necessary. He considered that the issue relates to "the fundamental understanding of our coexistence", pointing out that the cross represents not only the Christian faith but also reflects the "value system" in German society.
For his part, the evangelical bishop in Bavaria, Christian Kopp, emphasized the importance of protecting religious freedom, stating that government institutions, such as schools, should remain neutral in terms of doctrinal affiliation, adding: "Faith should not be imposed. It should come from freedom, and this freedom is something we all must protect."
The Ministry of Education in Munich has begun studying the implications of the decision, especially since the law in Bavaria requires crosses to be placed in primary and secondary schools and private schools, while this obligation does not include high schools like the schools involved in the case. Minister Anna Stolz stated that the ministry is taking the reasons for the ruling seriously, but emphasized that "the cross is not just a religious symbol, but represents respect for human dignity, tolerance, and love, which are values that form the foundation of society and the mission of education.