Who’s afraid of a creche?

The Association of Mayors in France published a Secularism Manual which demands that Christmas cribs be forbidden in town halls. It even worries about “potential infringements on secularity by way of support for demonstrations that are considered traditional (processions, christenings of ships, blessings of buildings...).”

This little catechism of the secularist religion—for it is one—intends to uproot Christianity from French soil and to disinherit the children of this spiritual patrimony. To make them rootless citizens without a heritage who are completely docile to the laws of liberal society, which is supposedly neutral and, in fact, spiritually empty. Soon we will have to sing in the department stores the winter holiday carol of hedonistic consumerism: “Price our savior is born,” a secular creed that is not free at all but obligatory.

Moreover, given the existence of faiths that have not adopted liberal secularism—any more than ecumenism and interreligious dialogue—this manual intends to disarm Christian souls. Uprooted, disinherited, disarmed, they will only be that much more receptive and vulnerable.

Above the creche, the angels sing in honor of the Infant Jesus in his poor manger: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will!” (Luke 2:14). This is what frightens some people and causes us great joy. This is why, following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, we make Christmas creches for everyone.

Fr. Alain Lorans