Saturday, May 19, 2012

France according to Hollande and Catholics' fears

The conservative institute “Civitas” complains about the new president’s opinion on same-sex marriage and euthanasia, but the Church mainly fears for Catholic schools.

The polls show that 79% of practicing Catholics voted for Nicholas Sarkozy in the recent presidential elections. The results, which saw the return of a socialist president to the Élysée Palace, are worrying the Church.

In the meanwhile, radical Catholic groups are planning protests against the political program of the new president, the socialist Francois Hollande, winner of the recent French elections. During his campaign Hollande had promised the legalization of homosexual marriage and a new law on euthanasia.
 
The “Civitas” institute presents itself as a political movement of lay people aimed at “establishing the social Kingship of Christ over the nations and peoples." 

The institute is connected to the Lefebvrians and started appearing in the press for its demonstrations against the theatre show “On the concept of the face of the son of God” by Romeo Castellucci, because “Civitas” considered the production blasphemous. 

“Civitas” refuses to accept a France that is “secular and communist” and believes that Hollande’s plan “frightens and deeply divides the French people.” It also criticizes Hollande’s vision as “intrinsically anti-Christian, anti-family and anti-nation.”
 
Stéphanie Le Bars, Le Monde’s religious affairs correspondent  believes that the vast majority of Catholic people do not agree and do not support such direct attacks, but also recognizes that despite the bitterness of certain statements, “Civitas” points out two issues that are not acceptable to most Catholics  and which had already been clearly expressed by various bishops in election time: same-sex marriage and more flexibility of euthanasia laws.
 
On 8 May, Mgr. Bernard Podvin, spokesman of the French Conference of bishops, explained the Church position on these matters and its oppositions to the reforms in an interview with La Croix newspaper. 

“The Church,” Podvin said “must keep its freedom in expressing its objections, even if this means going against the new majority, the fact that an opinion is held by many does not necessarily mean it is good for mankind.”
 
Various important Catholic columnists (on publications such as La Croix and La Vie) invited Hollande to avoid tackling these aspects of society because it would create more divisions in the country. 

It was also highlighted how the proposed changes might not be the most urgent and pivotal ones to solve the problems of the underprivileged strata of society at this time of dire crisis. 

But there are some who believe that the government might be tempted to tackle these matters, as it is faced with little room to manoeuvre on a social level.
 
Even though the issues raised by the “Civitas” campaign might gather consensus also outside the conservative group, it is difficult to imagine that “Civitas” with its radical and conservative positions would be able to unite together the different voices of the Catholic protest. 

The movement has been defined as “ultra-Catholic” (The analysis of Jean-Marie Guenois, Le Figaro newspaper’s expert on Vatican matters, is of particular interest. At the end of last year, the institute had acquired huge visibility in the media and it now is once again the focus of attention as it fights on the frontline to make sure that Hollande’s promises during the electoral campaign regarding homosexual marriage and euthanasia do not materialise. 

Moreover, the movement might also boost its visibility in view of putting forward candidates for the next election.
 
Faced with Hollande’s repeated declarations of laity, the French bishops’ main concern however is the repercussions that a political change might have on Catholic schools. 

At present the schools are supported by the municipalities and regions as far as the students’ board is concerned, but they would definitely face terrible difficulties if funding was cut.