Laïcité From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Motto of the French republic on thetympanum of a church, in Aups (Vardépartement) which was installed after the 1905 law on the Separation of the State and the Church. Such inscriptions on a church are very rare; this one was restored during the 1989 bicentenary of the French Revolution.

French secularism, in French, laïcité (pronounced [la.isiˈte]) is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs.[1][2] French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State.[3] During the twentieth century, it evolved to mean equal treatment of all religions, although a more restrictive interpretation of the term has developed since 2004.[4] Critics do not consider it neutral but hostile to religion, whereas since World War II, some have seen the evolution of a “positive” laïcité which manages competing pluralities rather than serving as secular alternative to religion.[5] Dictionaries ordinarily translate laïcité assecularity or secularism (the latter being the political system),[6] although it is sometimes rendered in English as laicity or laicism. While the term was coined in 1871 in the dispute over the removal of religious teachers and instruction from elementary schools, the term laïcité dates to 1842.[7]

In its strict and official acceptance, it is the principle of separation of church (or religion) and state.[8] Etymologically, laïcité is a noun formed by adding the suffix -ité (English -ity, Latin -itās) to the Latin adjective lāicus, loanword from the Greek λᾱϊκός (lāïkós “of the people”, “layman”), the adjective from λᾱός (lāós “people”).[9]




The word laïcité has been used, from the end of the 19th century on, to mean the freedom of public institutions, especially primary schools, from the influence of the Catholic Church[10]in countries where it had retained its influence, in the context of a secularization process. Today, the concept covers other religious movements as well.






[edit]Contemporary French political secularism


  • whether the organization disrupts public order.

French political leaders, though not prohibited from making religious remarks, refrain from it. Religious considerations are generally considered incompatible with reasoned political debate. Of course, political leaders may openly practice their religion (for instance, president Nicolas Sarkozy is a Catholic), but they are expected to refrain from mixing their private religious life with their public functions. Christine Boutin, who openly argued on religious grounds against a legal domestic partnership available regardless of the sex of the partners, was quickly marginalized.

The term was originally the French equivalent of the term laity, that is, everyone who is not clergy. After the French Revolution this meaning changed and it came to mean keeping religion separate from the executivejudicial, and legislative branches of government. This includes prohibitions on having a state religion, as well as for the government to endorse any religious position, be it a religion or atheism.

Although the term was current throughout the nineteenth century, France did not fully separate church and state until the passage of its 1905 law on the separation of the Churches and the State, prohibiting the state from recognizing or funding any religion. All religious buildings in France (mostly Catholic churches, Protestant temples and Jewish synagogues) became the property of the City councils. Those now have the duty to maintain the (often historical) buildings but can’t subsidize the religious organizations using them. In areas that were part ofGermany at that time, and which did not return to France until 1918, some arrangements for the cooperation of church and state are still in effect today (see Alsace-Moselle).

Laïcité is currently a core concept in the French constitution, Article 1 of which formally states that France is a secular republic (“La France est une République indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale.”) This of course does not prevent an active role on the part of the state (Presidence of the Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior) in the appointment of Catholic diocesan bishops – see Briand-Ceretti Agreement. Many see being discreet with one’s religion as a necessary part of being French. This has led to frequent divisions with some non-Christian immigrants, especially with part of France’s large Muslim population. A debate took place over whether any religious apparel or displays by individuals, such as the Islamic hijab, Sikh turban, (large) Christian crosses and Jewish Stars of David, should be banned from public schools. Such a ban came into effect in France in 2004; seeFrench law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools. In the spring of 2011 there was a reinforcement of laïcité in hospitals, advocated by the Minister of the Interior, Claude Guéant, and in public service generally, by the official non-discrimination agency, la HALDE. The simultaneous broadcasting of the traditional Protestant and Catholic Lent Sermons (operating since 1946) has been interrupted. Earlier the broadcasting of the Russian Orthodox Christmas night liturgy was similarly stopped on 6/7 January.

The strict separation of church and state which began with the 1905 law has evolved into what some see as a “form of political correctness that made bringing religion into public affairs a major taboo.”[12] President Sarkozy has criticised this approach as a “negative laïcité” and wants to develop a “positive laïcité” that recognizes the contribution of faith to French culture, history and society, allows for faith in the public discourse and for government subsidies for faith-based groups.[12] Sarkozy sees France’s main religions as positive contributions to French society. He visited the Pope in December 2007 and publicly acknowledged France’s Christian roots, while highlighting the importance of freedom of thought,[13] hinting that faithshould come back into the public sphere. Sarkozy publicly declared the burqa “not welcome” in France in 2009 and favored legislation to outlaw it, following which, in February 2010, a post office robbery took place by two burqa-clad robbers, ethnicity unknown, who after entering the post office, removed their veils.[14]

In line with Sarkozy’s views on the need for reform of laïcité, Pope Benedict XVI on September 12, 2008 said it was time to revisit the debate over the relationship between church and state, advocating a “healthy” form of laïcité.[15] Meeting with Sarkozy, he stated: “In fact, it is fundamental, on the one hand, to insist upon the distinction between the political realm and that of religion in order to preserve both the religious freedom of citizens and the responsibility of the state toward them.” [15] He went on: “On the other hand, [it is important] to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences and the contribution which it can bring to – among other things – the creation of a basic ethical consensus within society.”[15]



[edit]State secularism in other countries


Main article: organized secularism

In Belgium, “laïcité” has a double meaning. It refers either to the separation between Church and State or the community of citizens that reject religion and follow a secular way of life, such as free-thinkers. To distinguish between the two concepts, this community is also called georganiseerde vrijzinnigheid (Dutch) or laïcité organisée (French).

Under the Belgian constitution, ministers of religion are paid with government funds. The constitution was amended in 1991 in order to give the same right to persons fulfilling similar functions (mainly moral assistance) for the nonreligious. Public schools must now offer pupils the choice between religion courses and courses in non-religious morals.


Main article: Secularism in Turkey

In Turkey, a strong stance of secularism has held sway since Mustafa Kemal Atatürk‘s Turkish revolution in the early 20th century. On March 3, 1924 Turkey removed the caliphatesystem and all religious influence from the state. Sunni Islam, the majority religion, is now controlled by the Turkish government through the Department of Religious Affairs, and is state-funded while other religions or sects has independence, though limited, on religious affairs. Islamic views which are deemed political are censored in accordance with the principle of secularism.

This system of Turkish laïcité permeates both the government and religious sphere. The content of the weekly sermons in all state funded mosques has to be approved by the state. Also, independent Sunni communities are illegal. Minority religions, like Armenian or Greek Orthodoxy, are guaranteed by the constitution as individual faiths and are mostly tolerated, but this guarantee does not give any rights to religious communities. Turkey’s view is that the Treaty of Lausanne gives certain religious rights to JewsGreeks, and Armenians but not, for example, to Syrian-Orthodox or Roman Catholics, because the latter ones did not play any political roles during the treaty. However the Treaty of Lausanne does not specify any nationality or ethnicity and simply identifies non-Moslems in general.


[edit]Contrast with the United States

In the United States, the First Amendment to the Constitution contains a similar concept, although the term “laicity” is not used either in the Constitution or elsewhere, and is in fact used as a term to contrast European secularism with American secularism. That amendment includes clauses prohibiting both governmental interference with the “free exercise” of religion, and governmental “establishment” of religion. These clauses have been held by the courts to apply to both the federal and state governments. Together, the “free exercise clause” and “establishment clause” are considered to accomplish a “separation of church and state.”


The French philosopher and Universal Declaration of Human Rights co-drafter Jacques Maritain, a devout Catholic convert and critic of French laïcité, noted the distinction between the models found in France and in the mid-twentieth century United States.[16] He considered the US model of that time to be more amicable because it had both “sharp distinction and actual cooperation” between church and state, what he called “an historical treasure” and admonished the United States, “Please to God that you keep it carefully, and do not let your concept of separation veer round to the European one.”[16]

[edit]Proposal in Mexico

In March 2010, the lower house of the Mexican legislature introduced legislation to amend the Constitution to make the Mexican government formally “laico” – meaning “lay” or “secular”.[17] Critics of the move say the “context surrounding the amendment suggests that it might be a step backwards for religious liberty and true separation of church and state.”.[17] Coming on the heels of the Church’s vocal objection to legalization of abortion as well as same sex unions and adoptions in Mexico City, “together with some statements of its supporters, suggests that it might be an attempt to suppress the Catholic Church’s ability to engage in public policy debates.”[17] Mexico has had a history of religious suppression and persecution. Critics of the amendment reject the idea that “Utilitarians, Nihilists, Capitalists, and Socialists can all bring their philosophy to bear on public life, but Catholics (or other religious minorities) must check their religion at the door” in a sort of “second-class citizenship” which they consider nothing more than religious discrimination.[17]

[edit]See also


  3. ^ “France”Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Retrieved 2011-12-15. See drop-down essay on “The Third Republic and the 1905 Law of Laïcité”
  4. ^ “The deep roots of French secularism”. BBC News. 2004-09-01. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  5. ^ Jackson, Robert (2007), Religion and education in Europe: developments, contexts and debates, Waxmann Verlag, pp. 89–90
  6. ^ Collins Robert French Dictionary Unabridged, Harper Collins publishers
  8. ^ TLFi dictionary:
  9. ^ Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from website: laic
  10. ^ Excerpt of Nouveau dictionnaire de pédagogie et d’instruction primaire, 1911:
  12. a b Beita, Peter B. French President’s religious mixing riles critics Christianity Today, Jan. 23, 2008
  13. ^ Sarkozy breaks French taboo on church and politics
  14. ^ Burqa-clad robbers hold up post office
  15. a b c Allen, John L. (2008-09-12), “Pope in France: The case for ‘healthy secularism”National Catholic Reporter, retrieved 2012-02-10
  17. a b c d Goodrich, Luke, Mexico’s Separation of Church and State OffNews March 18, 2010, originally published in the Wall Street Journal

[edit]External links

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