Symbols of who we are Called to Become Sacraments in a Post-Secular and Post-Christian Society

Abstract

L December, a few days before Christmas, the Dutch-speaking part of belgium witnessed a virulent debate about whether or not the removal of a Christmas crib from a town hall in Holsbeek by some town officials was legitimate. Some claimed that the presence of such a religious symbol in an official public place violated the constitutional separation of state and church, and thus was to be considered an offense to the obligatory neutral or secular character of the town’s government and administration. Among them were members of organised atheism in belgium. Others stated that using such a Christian symbol might offend people of other faiths, especially Muslims, and therefore should be removed. Still others added that also people hurt by the Church’s viewpoints on homosexuality and the like, as well as its paedophilia victims, might oppose.