(05 Nov 09 - RV) Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday a European Court of Human Rights ruling that called for crucifixes to be removed from Italian classrooms was a nonsensical attempt to deny Europe's Christian roots.

The government plans to appeal the ruling after studying the case on Friday in a cabinet meeting.

The Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, welcomed the government’s intention to appeal the case.

He was just the latest voice of the Church on the matter. We hav this report...