Cardinal Expresses Concerns Over Muslim Veils in Europe
One of the most senior cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church has joined the debate on Muslim veils among immigrant communities in Europe.
by Jennifer Gold
Posted: Wednesday, November 15, 2006, 15:03 (GMT)
One of the most senior cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church has joined the debate over Muslim veils among immigrant communities in Europe.
Cardinal Renato Martino expressed his concern over the matter this week, the first time the Vatican has joined the quickly expanding Europe-wide debate on how wearing the veil affects integration into societies.
Cardinal Martino urged that immigrants must respect the traditions, culture and religion of the nations they travel to. In particular, they should abide by local laws banning the wearing of certain types of Muslim veils if necessary, he added.
Cardinal Martino is the head of the Vatican department which deals with migration issues. He said, “It seems elementary to me and it is quite right that the authorities demand it.”
The comments came as Cardinal Martino attended a news conference to promote a Vatican statement aimed at encouraging the integration of migrants across Europe.
In Italy, a law was passed during the attacks of the Red Brigades urban guerrillas three decades ago which makes it an offence to cover your face in public if your identity is challenged by a policeman, the BBC reports.
However, thirty years ago there were very few Muslim women immigrants in Italy, and the problems are becoming more prominent now.
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, a Vatican expert on immigration, also added that it was important to discuss with Muslims and allow them to understand the consequences of some of their religious traditions, and that they might not be positive in the societies in which they now find themselves.
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Added: Wednesday, November 15, 2006, 19:06 (GMT)
Females who travel to muslim countries must abide by the muslim culture and laws. So a woman travelling and visiting these countries most have her head and or face covered. So...a non-muslim person is ensuring that they are being politically correct and are not displaying any type of rude or improper behaviour towards the respected country they are visiting.
For muslims who travel abroad they also should be aware of laws that are created in different countries and the reasoning behind it. If they are not willing to abide by certains laws that have been put in place due to whatever the countries policies are then these persons must be made to understand and the laws need to be followed.
A female muslim was denied a drivers license in Florida, USA due to her not willing to remove her veil to take her driver license photo. The photo ID is needed to "identify" the person who holds the license. Since driving is not a "right" but a privelege; the woman was denied the license. Of course it went to the court system on behalf of her being denied her religous practices. If a police officer is questioning this person due to a traffice violation then the police officer will ask for the photo identification driver license to verify that the person is who they claim to be.
If people would start to become knowledgeable and respect each others cultures and practices maybe people would get along.
Trish, Bristol USA
