Religion and secular state face change, says French Protestant
-24/10/05
According to a top Protestant leader Franceís secular stance faces new challenges due to shifts in the religious landscape, writes Stephen Brown for Ecumenical News International. The claim comes exactly one hundred years after the official French separation of church and state.
Protestants – a tiny minority in traditionally-Roman Catholic France who were historically persecuted – welcomed the separation of church and state in 1905 because it allowed them to exist ìon equal terms with Catholicismî, the head of the Reformed Church of France, the Rev Marcel Manoel, told church leaders from around the world gathered in Evian, on Lake Geneva.
But the change in Franceís religious make-up is fuelling mistrust, conflict and a sort of ìsecularist rigidityî, Manoel noted in an address last week to the executive committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which groups 75 million Protestants worldwide.
Among changes highlighted by Manoel have been the growth of Islam and the mushrooming of new religious groups. Though no official statistics on religious affiliation exist, Muslims are reckoned to account for between 5 and 10 per cent of Franceís 60 million population.
Still, suggested Manoel, ìThe Muslim presence has become more visible but there is no certainty that the way they practice their religion will not change profoundly in a secular culture.î
In recent years there has been fierce debate about whether female Muslim students may wear the Islamic headscarf to school, and the adoption by parliament of a law against ìsectsî in 2001, generated strong criticism from Protestant and Catholic leaders.
Protestantism remains largely supportive of the secular stance because it prevents ìany religious take-over of power in politicsî, noted Manoel, the president of the Reformed churchís national council. But, he cautioned, there was a need for vigilance because the religious freedom of some groups was not always guaranteed.
ìEvangelical groups are suspected of being dangerous sects, immigrant churches, particularly African churches, suspected of political scheming, or church movements and agencies discriminated against because they clearly affirm their Protestant identity,î he said. This means the more recognised churches have to react. ìWe have to show our solidarity,î he said.
The growth of so-called immigrant churches in big cities is also affecting traditional denominations, the Protestant leader said. ìIn the beginning they were ethnic churches and then they opened up to the French public,î Manoel explained. ìThe question is how to demonstrate that in our diversity we are the one church of Jesus Christ.î
In other ways, too, the Reformed church, which with about 300 000 adherents is Franceís biggest Protestant denomination, is experiencing dramatic changes. The number of active members has halved over 50 years, and congregations in traditionally-Protestant areas – especially the countryside – have shrunk and there has been a 30 per cent drop in ministers.
Even so, parishes in big cities like Paris are now growing, and more people, especially women, want to become pastors.
In the past, Protestant church participation was passed down through the family, noted the church leader. Now interest is shown from people with no traditional links to the Reformed church, like ìCatholics disappointed with their church, as well as Evangelicals and non-believers,î Manoel elucidated.
ìWithout doubt there are fewer people but they are more active,î he asserted. ìWe are beginning to see a new way of being the Church which is less about organizing members and more about helping them to witness in contemporary society.î
[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.]
Religion and secular state face change, says French Protestant
-24/10/05
According to a top Protestant leader France’s secular stance faces new challenges due to shifts in the religious landscape, writes Stephen Brown for Ecumenical News International. The claim comes exactly one hundred years after the official French separation of church and state.
Protestants – a tiny minority in traditionally-Roman Catholic France who were historically persecuted – welcomed the separation of church and state in 1905 because it allowed them to exist ‘on equal terms with Catholicism’, the head of the Reformed Church of France, the Rev Marcel Manoel, told church leaders from around the world gathered in Evian, on Lake Geneva.
But the change in France’s religious make-up is fuelling mistrust, conflict and a sort of ‘secularist rigidity’, Manoel noted in an address last week to the executive committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which groups 75 million Protestants worldwide.
Among changes highlighted by Manoel have been the growth of Islam and the mushrooming of new religious groups. Though no official statistics on religious affiliation exist, Muslims are reckoned to account for between 5 and 10 per cent of France’s 60 million population.
Still, suggested Manoel, ‘The Muslim presence has become more visible but there is no certainty that the way they practice their religion will not change profoundly in a secular culture.’
In recent years there has been fierce debate about whether female Muslim students may wear the Islamic headscarf to school, and the adoption by parliament of a law against ‘sects’ in 2001, generated strong criticism from Protestant and Catholic leaders.
Protestantism remains largely supportive of the secular stance because it prevents ‘any religious take-over of power in politics’, noted Manoel, the president of the Reformed church’s national council. But, he cautioned, there was a need for vigilance because the religious freedom of some groups was not always guaranteed.
‘Evangelical groups are suspected of being dangerous sects, immigrant churches, particularly African churches, suspected of political scheming, or church movements and agencies discriminated against because they clearly affirm their Protestant identity,’ he said. This means the more recognised churches have to react. ‘We have to show our solidarity,’ he said.
The growth of so-called immigrant churches in big cities is also affecting traditional denominations, the Protestant leader said. ‘In the beginning they were ethnic churches and then they opened up to the French public,’ Manoel explained. ‘The question is how to demonstrate that in our diversity we are the one church of Jesus Christ.’
In other ways, too, the Reformed church, which with about 300 000 adherents is France’s biggest Protestant denomination, is experiencing dramatic changes. The number of active members has halved over 50 years, and congregations in traditionally-Protestant areas – especially the countryside – have shrunk and there has been a 30 per cent drop in ministers.
Even so, parishes in big cities like Paris are now growing, and more people, especially women, want to become pastors.
In the past, Protestant church participation was passed down through the family, noted the church leader. Now interest is shown from people with no traditional links to the Reformed church, like ‘Catholics disappointed with their church, as well as Evangelicals and non-believers,’ Manoel elucidated.
‘Without doubt there are fewer people but they are more active,’ he asserted. ‘We are beginning to see a new way of being the Church which is less about organizing members and more about helping them to witness in contemporary society.’
[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.]