A few months since the 120th anniversary of the Law of Separation of the Churches of 1905 and the State, Emmanuel Macron called on Monday, May 5, Masons to be the “guards” of secularism against the “identity reading trap.”
“I ask you to be the ambassadors (…) of secularism”, to demonstrate that “it is not an exclusion law but to comply”, that “constantly repeat that the only word that accepts secularism is that of freedom,” said the head of state during a speech before the Masons of the Grand Lodge of France.
“Be the guards of this great law of 1905”, against those who “want to erase, betray or divert it,” he added.
“We are careful”
“Secular France is the natural girl of the Republic (…) Let us take care that those who wish to make the law of 1905 read the identity about the pretext of the secularization of society, with the sole purpose of attacking religions, beliefs, in particular in the name of their alleged incompatibility with the values of the Republic,” he attacked Emmanuel Macron.
The discourse of the Head of State occurs, while the Interior Minister Brunoelleau of the Interior, in the campaign for the presidency of LR, is accused of overcoming the issues of secularism against Islam by proposing in particular the extension of the provisions of the 2004 law on the prohibition of religious signers to the companions of the schools and sports competitions.
It was the first visit of a President of the Republic to the Grand Lodge of France, a second Masonic obedience in France after the Great East of France. It has 32,000 members, against 55,000 for Grand Orient.
“France is an indivisible secular republic”
On December 9, 1905, the Republic – Cabalos Alsacia and Moselle, then the German territories – arose from the Concordatory Regime and the dominant Catholicity when promulgated, after hard debates, the “Law on the separation of the churches and the State”.
Two main principles are recorded in the marble of the law. First, “freedom of conscience”, which “the Republic ensures”, as well as “guarantees the free exercise of cults”, subject to the fulfillment of public order (article 1). Then, the neutrality of the State with respect to all religions, assured by the mention that “the Republic does not recognize, does not pay or subsidize any worship” (article 2).
As he approached the 120th anniversary of the law, the great east of France launched a petition that requested the constitutionalization of these first two articles. At the moment, the Constitution states in its article 1 that “France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social republic.”
Source: BFM TV
