Interview with Catherine Kintzler  "Sarkozy's 'Positive Laicism'
Is a Political Error"  With his idea of a "positive laicism" the
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has called into question his
country's traditionally strict separation of religion and state.
The philosopher Catherine Kintzler tells Rachid Boutayeb that
she is critical of Sarkozy's position, and explains why she
believes the principle of laicism ensures religious freedom
French President Nicholas Sarkozy (photo: AP) The French
president Nicolas Sarkozy caused a controversy with two speeches
in which he expressed his desire to see France return to its
Christian heritage and a stronger involvement of religion in
public  ​​The president wants a "positive laicism" which will
defend religious freedom, but which will not see religion as a
threat. Is laicism "à la française" a dogma which needs to be
put into a new context?  Catherine Kintzler: Laicism is not a
doctrine in which one believes or does not believe. One can be a
Muslim, a Catholic or an a