Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has had a long and complex history in France, dating back to the conversion of Clovis I, after which France was known as the eldest daughter of the Church. The French Revolution marked a significant shift, with power moving away from the Church and towards the state. This period saw the confiscation of Church property, the elimination of clergy privileges, and the suppression of Catholic priests. While the Revolution aimed to establish state neutrality towards religion, it also led to the persecution of religious figures and the decline of religious observance. In the 19th century, France continued to be predominantly Catholic, with the Little Sisters of the Poor, a charitable Catholic institution, gaining prominence. However, the 20th century witnessed a slow but persistent decline in religious participation, with surveys indicating a decrease in Sunday mass attendance and the frequency of sacraments. By the 1960s, the influence of secularization and changing social values led to a further shift away from traditional Catholic practices. Despite these changes, Catholicism remains a significant aspect of France's cultural and historical landscape, with the country playing a prominent role in the Crusades and the spread of Catholicism throughout its history.
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolution and the Catholic Church
The French Revolution of 1789 brought about a significant shift in the role of the Catholic Church in France, which had been the official state religion. The Revolution aimed to address the corruption and wealth of the higher clergy and the Catholic Church, which was the largest landowner in the country and controlled vast properties and extracted massive revenues from its tenants.
The revolutionary governing bodies were determined to destroy the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, and the National Constituent Assembly seized Church properties and land, selling them to fund the assignat revolutionary currency. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in July 1790, subordinated the Catholic Church to the French government, and clerics had to swear an oath of loyalty to the French Constitution. The pope never accepted this, and those who refused to take the oath were labelled 'non-jurors' or 'refractory priests'. Many fled overseas, and the French population divided between those who supported the 'Constitutional Church' and those who remained loyal to the refractory priests.
The revolutionary government introduced a new civil religion: patriotism. Traditional Christian holidays were abolished, and Catholic priests were brutally suppressed. The Gregorian calendar was replaced, months were rearranged to contain three "weeks" of ten days, and Catholic holy days were replaced with national holidays. Crucifixes and religious artifacts were removed from churches, and wearing clerical garb was forbidden. The government also mandated observance of the Cult of the Supreme Being in 1794.
The Revolutionary Tribunal, established in March 1793, saw mounting numbers of priests and nuns arrested and placed on trial for counter-revolution and 'fanaticism'. Their trials garnered further support for counterrevolutionary forces in western France and drove religious practice underground. Despite these efforts, attempts to destroy the Church and eliminate the faithful ultimately failed, and Catholicism in France began to revive and expand, with numerous religious congregations re-emerging or growing.
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The Catholic Church and the French Monarchy
In the 2nd century, the first written records of Christians in France appeared, with accounts of the deaths of Bishop Pothinus of Lugdunum (Lyon) and other martyrs. During the Middle Ages, the French monarchy played a significant role in the Crusades, particularly the Fourth Crusade, which led to the Frankokratia, where French Latin Catholics took control of parts of the Byzantine Empire. The French monarch Philip IV was also involved in the suppression of the Knights Templar in the 1300s.
The French Revolution of 1789 significantly shifted power away from the Catholic Church. Prior to the revolution, the Catholic Church was the official state religion of France, and the King was known as "His Most Christian Majesty." However, the revolution brought about a decline in the Church's influence, with the confiscation of Church property, the elimination of special clergy privileges, and the abolition of traditional Christian holidays. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790 made the clergy employees of the state, and the Church became subordinate to the secular government.
During the Revolution, there was also a rise in anti-clerical sentiment, with priests and nuns being arrested and placed on trial, and religious worship being driven underground. The Revolutionary Tribunal targeted "enemies of liberty" and "enemies of the people," which included members of the clergy. This period saw a decrease in religious observance and growing criticism of the Church by Enlightenment intellectuals.
In the 19th century, France underwent several wars for the emancipation of nationalities, including the Greek War and the Italian War. The July Monarchy of 1830 brought Louis Phillipe, the "King of the French," to the throne, marking the completion of French rule in Algeria. This period also saw the rise of charitable institutions, such as the Little Sisters of the Poor, founded by a group of working women to care for the elderly.
The 20th century witnessed a slow decline in quantitative participation in religious life, as reflected in decreasing Sunday mass attendance and the frequency of sacraments such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Anti-clericalism gradually declined among the French left-wing, and the question of religious freedom was largely resolved. However, the Catholic Church in France continued to evolve, with surveys indicating a shift in attitudes among French Catholics towards acceptance of same-sex marriage and homosexuality.
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Catholicism and the French left and right-wing
The relationship between Catholicism and the French left and right-wing has been complex and evolving. Historically, the Catholic Church was the official state religion of France, with the King of France known as "His Most Christian Majesty". However, the French Revolution significantly reduced the power of the Church, confiscating its property, eliminating special clergy privileges, and making the clergy employees of the state. This shift led to tensions and criticism of the Church by Enlightenment intellectuals.
In the twentieth century, anti-clericalism was a trait of the French left-wing, while the right-wing was generally associated with Catholicism. However, this dynamic has evolved, and anti-clericalism has declined among the left-wing. Most right-wing Frenchmen still identify as Catholics, but their relationship with the Church has been ambiguous. For example, Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) has questioned the legitimacy of religious institutions' presence in the public sphere and has become increasingly secularist, employing Catholicism and laïcité (secularism) as cultural identity markers against Islam.
On the left, the Radical-Socialist Party, led by prime minister Emile Combes in the early 1900s, enforced measures that some Catholics considered humiliating or blasphemous, leading to clashes. However, over time, many Catholics have come to appreciate the French state's secularism as it protects their faith from political interference. This shift is reflected in a 2006 statistic showing that 74% of French Catholics support same-sex marriage.
While the right-wing has traditionally been associated with Catholicism, the relationship is nuanced. The RN, for example, has criticised Catholic bishops and priests for their perceived left-wing tendencies. At the same time, the RN has intensified its references to France's Christian identity, seeking to reclaim its status as the 'Firstborn daughter of the Church' and championing the protection of churches.
Overall, the relationship between Catholicism and the French left and right-wing has been dynamic, with shifting attitudes and complexities within each political camp. While general trends can be observed, such as the traditional association of Catholicism with the right-wing, the specific stances and interactions between political ideologies and religious institutions have evolved over time in response to changing social and political contexts.
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The decline of Catholicism in France
The French Revolution marked a significant turning point in the decline of Catholicism in France. Before the Revolution, the Catholic Church was the official state religion, recognised by the French monarch, and almost the entire population of France was Catholic. However, the Revolution brought about a series of events and policies that targeted the Church and sought to reduce its power and influence.
In the years leading up to the Revolution, the Catholic Church in France was facing criticism from intellectuals of the Enlightenment, who questioned its wealth, abuses, and role in society. There was also a small but noticeable decrease in religious observance during this period. The French Revolution, which began in 1789, posed problems for the Catholic Church, and the Church itself became a target of revolutionary action.
The revolutionary authorities took several measures to suppress the Church, including abolishing the Catholic monarchy, confiscating Church property, and eliminating special clergy privileges. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in 1790, subordinated the Catholic Church to the French government, making the clergy employees of the state. Traditional Christian holidays were abolished, and Catholic priests were brutally suppressed. The revolutionary government also mandated the observance of new forms of moral religion, such as the Cult of the Supreme Being and the Cult of Reason.
The Revolution also saw the emergence of anti-clerical sentiment, with parish priests complaining about their exclusion from the wealth enjoyed by the upper echelons of the Church hierarchy. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, adopted in 1789, proclaimed freedom of religion across France but made no recognition of the special position of the Catholic Church, leaving it open and vulnerable to reform. The National Assembly passed decrees placing Church property under the control of the nation and targeting priests for arrest and trial.
While the Catholic Church in France survived the Revolution, it was profoundly impacted by it. The Revolution set in motion a process of secularisation and anti-clericalism that continued in the following decades, further contributing to the decline of Catholicism in France.
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The French Catholic Church and the Vatican
Historically, the French government has had a close association with the Catholic Church, especially after King Clovis I's conversion to Catholicism in 496. This led to France being called the "eldest daughter of the Church", with the King of France known as "His Most Christian Majesty". The French aristocracy played a prominent role in the Crusades, and the country was deeply involved in the Catholic-led Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century.
However, the French Revolution (1789-1799) marked a significant shift, as power was taken away from the Catholic Church. Church properties were confiscated, clergy privileges were eliminated, and Catholic priests were brutally suppressed. The Revolutionary Tribunal targeted 'enemies of liberty' and 'enemies of the people', resulting in the arrest and trial of many priests and nuns. Despite this, Catholicism continued to be the religion of the majority of the French people.
In the 19th century, France experienced a religious revival, and the Catholic Church began to re-establish itself. Napoleon Bonaparte's Concordat assured French Catholicism a period of peace, and numerous religious congregations were revived or established. However, conflicts with the Vatican over the appointment of bishops and the issue of secularism continued.
In the 20th century, France officially adopted Laïcité, a policy of absolute state neutrality regarding religious doctrine. This led to the separation of Church and state in 1905, which was a challenging adjustment for the Catholic Church. While the Church lost many priests and religious institutions, it gained autonomy, especially in the appointment of its bishops.
Today, France continues to have a strong Catholic presence, with notable churches and pilgrimage sites across the country. While the influence of the Catholic Church in education and politics has diminished, it remains an essential part of France's cultural and religious landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church was the official state religion of France before the French Revolution.
The French Revolution shifted power away from the Catholic Church. Church property was confiscated, clergy privileges were eliminated, and Catholic priests were brutally suppressed.
Yes, there was a decline in religious observance in France after the French Revolution. The number of young men entering the priesthood decreased, and the control of the Vatican over the episcopate increased.
Yes, Catholicism in France experienced a revival during the Napoleonic era, with the emergence of new religious congregations. However, in the 20th century, there was a slow but persistent decline in quantitative participation in religious life, with a decrease in Sunday mass attendance and sacramental practices.
