<p>"It is of fundamental importance to maintain your own traditions, and Italy has a Christian and Catholic background. Therefore, to keep the tradition of the crucifix in the schools is extremely important," the Dalai Lama told a media conference at Italy's chamber of deputies on Wednesday.<br /></p>.<p>The European Court of Human Rights ruled on November 3 that placing the crucifix in classrooms infringed parents' right to educate their children "in conformity with their convictions".<br /></p>.<p>The court ruling has sparked fierce debate in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy where the Vatican earlier this month strongly rejected the ruling, saying it was "wrong and myopic" to exclude a symbol of charity from education.<br /></p>.<p>The case was launched by an Italian woman, Soile Lautsi, who opposed the display of a Catholic crucifix at her children's state school in Abano Terme, a small town outside the northern city of Padua.<br /></p>.<p>Lautsi was also awarded 5,000 euros in damages by the court. </p>
<p>"It is of fundamental importance to maintain your own traditions, and Italy has a Christian and Catholic background. Therefore, to keep the tradition of the crucifix in the schools is extremely important," the Dalai Lama told a media conference at Italy's chamber of deputies on Wednesday.<br /></p>.<p>The European Court of Human Rights ruled on November 3 that placing the crucifix in classrooms infringed parents' right to educate their children "in conformity with their convictions".<br /></p>.<p>The court ruling has sparked fierce debate in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy where the Vatican earlier this month strongly rejected the ruling, saying it was "wrong and myopic" to exclude a symbol of charity from education.<br /></p>.<p>The case was launched by an Italian woman, Soile Lautsi, who opposed the display of a Catholic crucifix at her children's state school in Abano Terme, a small town outside the northern city of Padua.<br /></p>.<p>Lautsi was also awarded 5,000 euros in damages by the court. </p>
