De La Laicité en France by Patrick Weil

 De La Laicité en France

by Patrick Weil, released by Editions Grasset, introduces us the story of what, for France, means laicity. The death of Samuel Paty a teacher who insisted on the value of laicity and freedom of expression with his students, and was killed by some extremists touched everyone. He was decapitated. A terrible end.

In this book Weil traces a serious, clear, competent history of France's laicity. 

It was  dec 9th 1905 when in France was approved a law for the complete strong and firm separation of the various churches and religious confessions and the State.

In France the President in case of trial musn't swear on the Bible; citizens are free to become believers or not; no one will tell them what to do and who to be; any sort of influence is punished pretty heavily; religious people weren't financed anymore by the State; catholic schools became unexistent; at the same time there was a big fight of the catholic priests against the laicity of french schools. 

The President of France visits and recognized Presidents and premiers in various States, but won't never visit the Pope, because to him, authority is somewhere else.

They were maybe strong rules but this discussion and law is still keeping France a land of freedoom, without religious ingerences.

Of course there were changes in this law, in particular close to the second world war, but most of the choices made are still on. There are many religions in France; not just catholics, but also  buddhists, jewish, muslins and everyone and every creed must be respected.

With the time if common religion lost their appeal, sects became, dangerously more powerful. They created a lot of messes, and some laws were approved for a stronger regulation. 

When the law of 1905 appeared to the horizon, the Catholic church tried its best for a change, but there was nothing to do and most of the priests who lamented a discrimination suffered trials and punishments. They protested regarding the books children were studying in; they tried to convince people that what the government was doing was completely wrong; and if there is something that musn't be done is influencing other people regarding a religious creed. This one is a big crime punished heavily.

Regulations on funerals, processions as you will read, took place.

It is not consented in any way the installation of religious statues or symbols of any sort; there are strict rules that must be respected.

If the Church understood the lesson and relationship returned to be more cordials and there were some openings, problems recently involved Muslims and some symbols worn also at school; there are no symbols of any religious creed anywhere, visible in schools or workplaces; nothing; and the State thinks that it is better not wearing any religious symbol for not influencing in a way or in another other people.

An interesting case was the one of the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci seen satirically; it was a big scandal and if at first it was remarked how the same imagine of Jesus Christ was injured and that the feelings of catholic could be heavily touched or hurted by it, the final court Cassation added that no, there wasn't any kind of personal attack or injury against catholics people. "Le délit d'injur protège le croyants et non les croyances." 

Same story for Charlie Hebdo when in 2007 was discussed the legalité, legality of their publications. 

Brigitte Bardot was condemned because of racial speeches against some religions.

French people take seriously religions and the right of believing or not, maintaining the State completely secular; this big right means a large toleration, respect and understanding for all the creeds in the country.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it to everyone, because the thematic is one of the most important ones at the moment.

I thank Editions Grasset for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori