President
Nicolas Sarkozy was accused on Friday of transgressing France’s secular constitution after rolling out the red carpet
for the Pope and calling for greater acceptance of religion.
As he welcomed Benedict XVI to France at the beginning
of a four-day visit, Mr Sarkozy said: “Rejecting a dialogue with religion would be a cultural and intellectual error”.
He
also set out his concept of a “positive secularism that debates, respects and includes, not a secularism that rejects”.
France
has been a staunchly secular state since an anti-clerical government passed a law in 1905 disestablishing the Roman Catholic
church and banning the use of public money for religious purposes.
“Secularism implies that religion is a private
matter, in a state that respects freedom to worship,” said Julien Dray, a Socialist party spokesman. “Those responsible
for governing the republic, above all the president, must act as guardians of these principles.”
In recent years,
it is members of France’s 5m strong community of Muslims rather than its dwindling population of church-going Catholics
who have brought into question the strict separation of religion and the state, as in the dispute over a ban on headscarves
in schools.
Now it is the president who has broken political taboos by suggesting that religion should play a bigger
role in the public sphere.
In December last year he enraged secularists when he said schoolteachers could not fully
replace parish priests for instilling moral values and eternal truths. The primary schoolteacher was traditionally regarded
as the bulwark against the power of the church.
Even his decision to greet the pontiff in person at the airport on Friday
has raised eyebrows.
Son of a Hungarian immigrant and with Jewish ancestry, Mr Sarkozy often describes himself as a
non-practising Catholic, a declaration his predecessors would not have made, even though they may have been more devout than
this two-times divorcee.
Although Mr Sarkozy’s stance may help solidify his support among traditional Catholic
centre-right voters, it also stems from a long-standing curiosity about the role of religion in modern political life.
“Positive
secularism” in practice meant “the search for meaning and the respect for beliefs”, he said on Friday.
The
president’s views were echoed by the Pope, prompting criticism from Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a leftwing senator and
staunch secularist.
The French appear largely indifferent to the Pope’s visit. An Opinionway survey published
on Friday found 62 per cent regarded it as a matter of importance for Catholics rather than for the French
Pope backs Sarkozy’s bid
for religious values
09-13-08
Pope Benedict and President Nicolas Sarkozy urged
France yesterday to reconsider its strict separation of church and state and to allow religious "values" to influence
public life.
M. Sarkozy and Pope Benedict XVI, at the start of his first visit to France, made speeches
which were intended to calm – but may inflame – debate over the French "secular" tradition.
Pope
Benedict called for a more "open" approach to secular government, which would accept the Christian "roots"
of French society.
M. Sarkozy repeated a controversial call for a "positive secularism" which would allow
religious – not just Christian – values to influence public life.
However, both men stressed their comments
were intended to embrace and not divide France's multi-religious society.
Pope Benedict is controversial in France.
His efforts to rehabilitate a French Catholic movement which split with Rome in the 1980s have exasperated a mainstream church
struggling to maintain Catholicism as a force in French life. Fewer than 5 per cent of people go to Mass but 70 per cent identify
as Catholic.
More than 200,000 mainly young people are expected to attend an open-air Mass which the Pope will celebrate
in Paris today. Tomorrow, he will travel to Lourdes to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
M.
Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, met the Pope at Orly airport.
The President – although not a regularly
practising Catholic and twice divorced – generated heated debate in December when he suggested that religious, especially
Catholic values, should be part of political life. Since 1905, France has maintained a strict separation of church and state.
The
Pope took up the theme in two speeches – at the Elysée Palace and before 700 intellectuals representing all religions
and non-religion. A distinction between politics and religion was "fundamentally important" to guarantee freedom
of worship, he said, but called for a more "open" approach to secularism.
Religion had an "irreplaceable
role in the formation of the human conscience" and ethics.
François Bayrou, the centrist candidate in last
year's presidential election, refused an invitation to the Pope's reception at the Elysée Palace, saying that
the Pope should not have been treated like a political leader and invited to the home of the head of the French secular state.
Pope, Sarkozy emphasize revamp of
church-state
LOURDES, France - Pope Benedict XVI urged France on Friday
to move towards a model of secularism that acknowledges the "irreplaceable" role of religion in building an ethical
consensus in one of the world's most secular societies.
Benedict, who is in Paris Friday and will arrive in Lourdes
- site of a major shrine devoted to the Virgin Mary - on Saturday, stressed it is fundamental to recognize church-state separation
to ensure both religious freedom and the responsibility of governments towards their citizens.
But he also seized on
President Nicolas Sarkozy's unprecedented openness to a more assertive church, or "positive secularism" as Sarkozy
calls it, in French society.
France established its model of secularism - called laicite - with a strict law imposed
in 1905 that prohibited all state-sanctioned or state-funded religion.
"At this moment in history when cultures
continue to cross paths more frequently, I am firmly convinced that a new reflection on the true meaning and importance of
laicite is now necessary," Benedict said in a speech at the Elysee Palace after meeting with Sarkozy.
"In
fact, it is fundamental to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences and the
contribution which it can bring to - among other things - the creation of a basic ethical consensus within society."
Sarkozy,
who spoke before the Pope, said it would be "madness" for France, which "accepts its Christian roots,"
to "deprive ourselves" of religion.
It is "legitimate for democracy and respectful of secularism to have
a dialogue with religions," he said.
Analysts say French Catholics, with the lowest church attendance rate in Europe,
feel threatened by the growing number of Muslim immigrants and might therefore be more open to greater recognition of the
Catholic church's role in French culture and history.
Benedict, who is facing inevitable comparisons to his far
more charismatic predecessor John Paul II, read his speech in fluent French while rarely moving his gaze from the text.
After
his speech the twice-divorced Sarkozy, flanked by ex-supermodel wife Carla Bruni, introduced the Pope to key French political
leaders in the audience.
Benedict appeared to make a veiled reference to the Russia-Georgia conflict, fear of a new
Cold War, and Sarkozy's role, as the current president of the European Union, in convincing Russia to honour its withdrawal
commitments.
"As we face the danger of a resurgence of old suspicions, tensions and conflicts among nations, which
we are troubled to witness today, France, which historically has been sensitive to reconciliation between peoples, is called
to help Europe build up peace within her borders and throughout the world."
He stressed his longstanding message
since assuming the papacy in 2005 that France, like Europe, is rooted in Christianity.
Benedict also subtly restated
the church's longstanding opposition to abortion and euthanasia when he spoke of the "inalienable" human rights
of people "from conception to natural death
Pope, Sarkozy emphasize revamp of
church-state
LOURDES,
France - Pope Benedict XVI urged France on Friday to move towards a model of secularism that acknowledges the "irreplaceable"
role of religion in building an ethical consensus in one of the world's most secular societies.
Benedict, who is
in Paris Friday and will arrive in Lourdes - site of a major shrine devoted to the Virgin Mary - on Saturday, stressed it
is fundamental to recognize church-state separation to ensure both religious freedom and the responsibility of governments
towards their citizens.
But he also seized on President Nicolas Sarkozy's unprecedented openness to a more assertive
church, or "positive secularism" as Sarkozy calls it, in French society.
France established its model of secularism
- called laicite - with a strict law imposed in 1905 that prohibited all state-sanctioned or state-funded religion.
"At
this moment in history when cultures continue to cross paths more frequently, I am firmly convinced that a new reflection
on the true meaning and importance of laicite is now necessary," Benedict said in a speech at the Elysee Palace after
meeting with Sarkozy.
"In fact, it is fundamental to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for
the formation of consciences and the contribution which it can bring to - among other things - the creation of a basic ethical
consensus within society."
Sarkozy, who spoke before the Pope, said it would be "madness" for France,
which "accepts its Christian roots," to "deprive ourselves" of religion.
It is "legitimate
for democracy and respectful of secularism to have a dialogue with religions," he said.
Analysts say French Catholics,
with the lowest church attendance rate in Europe, feel threatened by the growing number of Muslim immigrants and might therefore
be more open to greater recognition of the Catholic church's role in French culture and history.
Benedict, who is
facing inevitable comparisons to his far more charismatic predecessor John Paul II, read his speech in fluent French while
rarely moving his gaze from the text.
After his speech the twice-divorced Sarkozy, flanked by ex-supermodel wife Carla
Bruni, introduced the Pope to key French political leaders in the audience.
Benedict appeared to make a veiled reference
to the Russia-Georgia conflict, fear of a new Cold War, and Sarkozy's role, as the current president of the European Union,
in convincing Russia to honour its withdrawal commitments.
"As we face the danger of a resurgence of old suspicions,
tensions and conflicts among nations, which we are troubled to witness today, France, which historically has been sensitive
to reconciliation between peoples, is called to help Europe build up peace within her borders and throughout the world."
He
stressed his longstanding message since assuming the papacy in 2005 that France, like Europe, is rooted in Christianity.
Benedict
also subtly restated the church's longstanding opposition to abortion and euthanasia when he spoke of the "inalienable"
human rights of people "from conception to natural death
Pope, Sarkozy emphasize revamp of
church-state
LOURDES,
France - Pope Benedict XVI urged France on Friday to move towards a model of secularism that acknowledges the "irreplaceable"
role of religion in building an ethical consensus in one of the world's most secular societies.
Benedict, who is
in Paris Friday and will arrive in Lourdes - site of a major shrine devoted to the Virgin Mary - on Saturday, stressed it
is fundamental to recognize church-state separation to ensure both religious freedom and the responsibility of governments
towards their citizens.
But he also seized on President Nicolas Sarkozy's unprecedented openness to a more assertive
church, or "positive secularism" as Sarkozy calls it, in French society.
France established its model of secularism
- called laicite - with a strict law imposed in 1905 that prohibited all state-sanctioned or state-funded religion.
"At
this moment in history when cultures continue to cross paths more frequently, I am firmly convinced that a new reflection
on the true meaning and importance of laicite is now necessary," Benedict said in a speech at the Elysee Palace after
meeting with Sarkozy.
"In fact, it is fundamental to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for
the formation of consciences and the contribution which it can bring to - among other things - the creation of a basic ethical
consensus within society."
Sarkozy, who spoke before the Pope, said it would be "madness" for France,
which "accepts its Christian roots," to "deprive ourselves" of religion.
It is "legitimate
for democracy and respectful of secularism to have a dialogue with religions," he said.
Analysts say French Catholics,
with the lowest church attendance rate in Europe, feel threatened by the growing number of Muslim immigrants and might therefore
be more open to greater recognition of the Catholic church's role in French culture and history.
Benedict, who is
facing inevitable comparisons to his far more charismatic predecessor John Paul II, read his speech in fluent French while
rarely moving his gaze from the text.
After his speech the twice-divorced Sarkozy, flanked by ex-supermodel wife Carla
Bruni, introduced the Pope to key French political leaders in the audience.
Benedict appeared to make a veiled reference
to the Russia-Georgia conflict, fear of a new Cold War, and Sarkozy's role, as the current president of the European Union,
in convincing Russia to honour its withdrawal commitments.
"As we face the danger of a resurgence of old suspicions,
tensions and conflicts among nations, which we are troubled to witness today, France, which historically has been sensitive
to reconciliation between peoples, is called to help Europe build up peace within her borders and throughout the world."
He
stressed his longstanding message since assuming the papacy in 2005 that France, like Europe, is rooted in Christianity.
Benedict
also subtly restated the church's longstanding opposition to abortion and euthanasia when he spoke of the "inalienable"
human rights of people "from conception to natural death
Keep Christian heritage, Pope urges
September
13, 2008
Pope Benedict yesterday urged Europe not
to sweep aside its Christian heritage, saying the search for God should be as much a part of the foundation of the continent's
culture today as it was in centuries past.
The 81-year-old
Benedict made his appeal at the start of his first visit as pontiff to France, where he stressed that "laicite",
the separation of church and state enshrined in its constitution, could never be threatened by religion.
Europe, he said, would be spiritually defeated if it convinced itself
that God had no role in modern life.
"To seek
God and to let oneself be found by him -- that is today no less necessary than in former times," he said in a long address
to intellectuals and artists.
"What gave Europe's
culture its foundation -- the search for God and the readiness to listen to him -- remains today the basis of any genuine
culture," he said in fluent French.
Forgetting
this would be unreasonable and raise the risk that Europe could fall prey to the two extremes of "subjective arbitrariness
and fundamentalist fanaticism," he declared.
Members
of France's Muslim community attended the lecture and were introduced to Benedict after he finished. The Pope had earlier
met Jewish leaders, who could not attend the evening lecture because of the start of the Sabbath.
The German Pope made similar comments about religion aboard the plane taking him
to Paris and in an address to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has broken a political taboo by speaking openly and positively
about the role of religion in society.
"It is
fundamental, on the one hand, to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion," Benedict
said in his speech at the president's Elysee Palace.
It
was necessary, he added, "to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences
(and) the creation of a basic ethical consensus within society."
Bells rang out across Paris to greet the Pope as he arrived at the Elysee but there were none of the huge
crowds that welcomed his predecessor John Paul on his eight trips to France, which are credited with sparking a rebirth in
Catholic identity.
Traditionally, Catholic France
maintains a strict separation of church and state. The French church struggles with a shortage of priests and Sunday mass
attendance is below 10 per cent.
But religion has
re-emerged as a factor in public life in recent years, especially because of the growth of Islam, and French Catholics have
increasingly spoken out on social issues. In his speech to the Pope Sarkozy said it would be "folly" for France
to ignore its long history of Christian thought.
Pope backs bigger role for religion
Paris 09-13-08
PARIS
- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged a greater role for religion in European society but cautioned against fundamentalist fanaticism
as he met Friday with political, Jewish and Muslim leaders in his first papal visit to France. In separate remarks to French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, Benedict also called for more attention to the role of faith in shaping consciences and forging
"a basic ethical consensus within society." France is proud of its secular division between church and state, and
some proponents of that stance were angered by the pope's remarks on the opening day of a four-day pilgrimage. But others
- including Muslim and Jewish figures in Paris - expressed appreciation that he reached out to them. Benedict also expressed
concern over human rights ranging from "conception to natural death" - Vatican phrasing for abortion and euthanasia.
Several Muslim leaders were among the 600 or so people invited to hear the pope speak about Europe and culture during an evening
appearance at a former monastery where monks in medieval times sought to keep learning alive on the continent. France's
population of Jews and Muslims is the largest in Western Europe. The pope flies Saturday to Lourdes, the religious shrine
in southern France that draws millions of pilgrims annually, many of them hoping for miraculous cures.
September 13, 2008
Pope
Benedict yesterday urged Europe not to sweep aside its Christian heritage, saying the search for God should be as much a part
of the foundation of the continent's culture today as it was in centuries past.
The 81-year-old Benedict made his appeal at the start of his first visit as pontiff to France, where
he stressed that "laicite", the separation of church and state enshrined in its constitution, could never be threatened
by religion.
Europe, he said, would be spiritually
defeated if it convinced itself that God had no role in modern life.
"To seek God and to let oneself be found by him -- that is today no less necessary than in former times,"
he said in a long address to intellectuals and artists.
"What
gave Europe's culture its foundation -- the search for God and the readiness to listen to him -- remains today the basis
of any genuine culture," he said in fluent French.
Forgetting
this would be unreasonable and raise the risk that Europe could fall prey to the two extremes of "subjective arbitrariness
and fundamentalist fanaticism," he declared.
Members
of France's Muslim community attended the lecture and were introduced to Benedict after he finished. The Pope had earlier
met Jewish leaders, who could not attend the evening lecture because of the start of the Sabbath.
The German Pope made similar comments about religion aboard the plane taking him
to Paris and in an address to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has broken a political taboo by speaking openly and positively
about the role of religion in society.
"It is
fundamental, on the one hand, to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion," Benedict
said in his speech at the president's Elysee Palace.
It
was necessary, he added, "to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences
(and) the creation of a basic ethical consensus within society."
Bells rang out across Paris to greet the Pope as he arrived at the Elysee but there were none of the huge
crowds that welcomed his predecessor John Paul on his eight trips to France, which are credited with sparking a rebirth in
Catholic identity.
Traditionally, Catholic France
maintains a strict separation of church and state. The French church struggles with a shortage of priests and Sunday mass
attendance is below 10 per cent.
But religion has
re-emerged as a factor in public life in recent years, especially because of the growth of Islam, and French Catholics have
increasingly spoken out on social issues. In his speech to the Pope Sarkozy said it would be "folly" for France
to ignore its long history of Christian thought.
Pope backs bigger role for religion
Paris 09-13-08
PARIS
- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged a greater role for religion in European society but cautioned against fundamentalist fanaticism
as he met Friday with political, Jewish and Muslim leaders in his first papal visit to France. In separate remarks to French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, Benedict also called for more attention to the role of faith in shaping consciences and forging
"a basic ethical consensus within society." France is proud of its secular division between church and state, and
some proponents of that stance were angered by the pope's remarks on the opening day of a four-day pilgrimage. But others
- including Muslim and Jewish figures in Paris - expressed appreciation that he reached out to them. Benedict also expressed
concern over human rights ranging from "conception to natural death" - Vatican phrasing for abortion and euthanasia.
Several Muslim leaders were among the 600 or so people invited to hear the pope speak about Europe and culture during an evening
appearance at a former monastery where monks in medieval times sought to keep learning alive on the continent. France's
population of Jews and Muslims is the largest in Western Europe. The pope flies Saturday to Lourdes, the religious shrine
in southern France that draws millions of pilgrims annually, many of them hoping for miraculous cures.
September 13, 2008
Pope
Benedict yesterday urged Europe not to sweep aside its Christian heritage, saying the search for God should be as much a part
of the foundation of the continent's culture today as it was in centuries past.
The 81-year-old Benedict made his appeal at the start of his first visit as pontiff to France, where
he stressed that "laicite", the separation of church and state enshrined in its constitution, could never be threatened
by religion.
Europe, he said, would be spiritually
defeated if it convinced itself that God had no role in modern life.
"To seek God and to let oneself be found by him -- that is today no less necessary than in former times,"
he said in a long address to intellectuals and artists.
"What
gave Europe's culture its foundation -- the search for God and the readiness to listen to him -- remains today the basis
of any genuine culture," he said in fluent French.
Forgetting
this would be unreasonable and raise the risk that Europe could fall prey to the two extremes of "subjective arbitrariness
and fundamentalist fanaticism," he declared.
Members
of France's Muslim community attended the lecture and were introduced to Benedict after he finished. The Pope had earlier
met Jewish leaders, who could not attend the evening lecture because of the start of the Sabbath.
The German Pope made similar comments about religion aboard the plane taking him
to Paris and in an address to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has broken a political taboo by speaking openly and positively
about the role of religion in society.
"It is
fundamental, on the one hand, to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion," Benedict
said in his speech at the president's Elysee Palace.
It
was necessary, he added, "to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences
(and) the creation of a basic ethical consensus within society."
Bells rang out across Paris to greet the Pope as he arrived at the Elysee but there were none of the huge
crowds that welcomed his predecessor John Paul on his eight trips to France, which are credited with sparking a rebirth in
Catholic identity.
Traditionally, Catholic France
maintains a strict separation of church and state. The French church struggles with a shortage of priests and Sunday mass
attendance is below 10 per cent.
But religion has
re-emerged as a factor in public life in recent years, especially because of the growth of Islam, and French Catholics have
increasingly spoken out on social issues. In his speech to the Pope Sarkozy said it would be "folly" for France
to ignore its long history of Christian thought.
