In view of the political events of 2017, the Conference of Catholic Bishops published a very early stage, the “thoughts elements” to locate seven issues for France and repel the “identity crises”.
the Catholic Church eve, France, to respect the boundary of secularism avoiding any intervention in the political field. But before every major electoral event, she does not hesitate to publish, far ahead, the “food for thought” to illuminate the Catholic vote. These are estimated at 60% of the population but only 6% of French Catholics practitioners. This minority, overwhelmingly right center (about 75%), however, can make the difference to make or withdraw a candidate, the small percentage of votes that weighs heavily when tight second round of a presidential election. This happened in 1981 when a significant proportion of Catholics voted François Mitterrand. This factor played against him in 2012 against Nicolas Sarkozy: an influential part, firmly anchored to the left of the episcopate and of the French clergy was viscerally opposed to it
This is how the Permanent Council. the conference of bishops of France published on Monday, a record seven-point entitled “2017 election year, some food for thought.” The hope is to create “a genuine democratic debate” in the light “of our convictions rooted in Christian tradition” and inspired “texts published by Pope Francis”. September issues so or chapter headings are. “Democracy and society of violence,” “for a project of society”, “towards a pact for education”, “solidarity”, “migrants”, “Europe”, “ecology”
“A more equitable sharing of work and the fruits of labor”
on the form of political life, the bishops are worried effect of a process of “hysteria of public life.” They accuse the “media game” that promotes “verbal abuse” by creating a “role play” where the “controversy” replaces the “real debate” by promoting “postures”. They also regret “discredit or impotence” striking “democratic life” because of “excess too circumstantial laws” serving “special interests” or “pressure groups” that lead to this result: “we try to deny democratic procedures to obtain by coercion or even violence, what we did not get at the ballot box.”
Hence, the substance and in response to the rise of the National Front not to name, the need to “do right to nationhood” by a “real national debate” avoiding “the risk of identity crises” and will not shy away “the place and importance of religion and religions”. But they do not mention any place the question of the Christian roots.
As for the “project of society” imagined by the episcopate, it must seek a “sharing economy” with “a more equitable sharing of work and the fruits of labor “because the economy alone is not” the only building factor in the quality of human life. ” So the “great responsibility of the state to organize solidarity.” And as the “gap” between the richest and poorest continues to increase, the bishops formulated this recommendation: “the State must positively manage the tension between liberalism without control and safeguarding social protection mechanisms “. And specify as if this was non-negotiable. “This goal must necessarily out of the projects submitted to the votes of citizens”
Commit “courageously in foster policies”
Interestingly bishops do not address the issue in front of the family who could have been included as one of the main issues mentioned in chapter heading. They fit into what they call “educational pact” where they bind family, school, education. All that “weakens the stability of families,” they note, “measures that blur affiliation” for example, or that “promote divorce and family breakdown,” eventually “be paid dearly” by the “first victims. children “
the chapter on ecology is in line with the encyclical of Pope Francis” laudato if . ” It calls for “review our patterns of consumption” to “invent a world less destructive and more just.” The chapters on “Europe” and “migrants” are very developed. The old continent, they write, should not “feed the illusion of bar the way to all the misery to protect its relative prosperity” but engage “courageously in foster policies”.
This home, insist the bishops, must be combined with “real support programs in the countries of origin of migration.” As for the reception of migrants itself, the Church of France advanced in two directions but never addresses the question of Islam. The flows from the Middle East first: “When Jordan and Lebanon receive millions of refugees,” could France “back at the prospect of welcoming and integrating tens of thousands of these victims? “. Migrants come from “several years” then: Is it “tolerable” that “thousands of men, women and children are living in our territory in conditions too often inhumane?”.
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