In France, Three Bones of Contention Between Church and State

Archbishop Luigi Ventua, apostolic nuncio – the ambassador of the Holy See in France, Cardinal Vingt-Trois – apostolic administrator of the diocese of Paris until January of 2018 , and Archbishop Georges Pontier – president of the Episcopal Conference of France – met with the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe.

Several subjects – stumbling blocks between the Church of France and the French government – were broached.

Bioethics, of course, since the Church remains very reserved about the methodology revealed in November of 2017 in preparation for the general assembly on bioethics scheduled for 2018: extending access to MAP (medically assisted procreation) was one of President Emmanuel Macron’s campaign promises.

Tax reform – with the withholding tax and the creation of a solidarity tax on real estate – gives reason to fear there will be a substantial decrease in donations made to the Church.

And secularism: the “Sapin II” law, which plans to register religions as “lobbies” in France, is inconceivable for the representatives of the Catholic Church, who are also opposed to the creation of a “college degree in secularism” which would be made obligatory for all chaplains working in public institutions.