A few months before 120e anniversary of the 1905 law of separation of churches and the State, Emmanuel Macron called the Freemasons, Monday May 5, to be the « vigies » secularism in the face of “Identity reading trap”.
“I ask you to be the ambassadors (…) secularism “to demonstrate that “It is not a law of exclusion but of meeting”d’“Going constantly repeating that the only word that agrees to secularism is that of freedom”said the Head of state during a speech before the Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of France. “Be the lookouts of this great law of 1905”against those who “Want to erase it, betray it or divert it”he added.
“Secular France is the natural girl of the Republic (…) Let us take care that prepare those who would like to make the law of 1905 an identity reading on the pretext of secularizing 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 hammered.
Two principles engraved in marble
The speech of the head of state comes as the very right -handed Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, in the campaign for the presidency of the Republicans (LR), is accused of outbid on the questions of secularism in the face of Islam. The tenant of Place Beauvau offers in particular to extend the provisions of the 2004 law on the prohibition of religious signs to the accompanists of school outings and sports competitions.
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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 Grand Orient of France. It has 32,000 members, compared to 55,000 for the Grand Orient.
On December 9, 1905, the Republic – outside Alsace and Moselle, then German territories – came out of the concordatory regime and the dominant Catholicity by promulgating, after harsh debates, the “Act concerning the separation of Churches and the State”. Two main principles are engraved in the marble of the law. First the “Freedom of conscience”that “The Republic assures”just as she “Guarantees the free exercise of cults”subject to compliance with public order (article 1). Then the neutrality of the State with regard to all religions, ensured by the mention that “The Republic does not recognize, does not pay or subsidize any worship” (article 2).
As the 120 approachese Anniversary of the law, the Grand Orient of France launched a petition calling for the constitutionalization of these first two articles. For the time being, the Constitution affirms in its article 1 that “France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social republic”.
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Debate on the end of life
The Head of State also mentioned, during his speech, the end of life, a week before the arrival at the National Assembly of the text creating a “Right to help to die”. “It is a vertigo that touches each and each of ushe said. But the debate, resolutely, cannot be reduced to the question of whether one is for life or against life, or if on the one hand, there would be a humanism which would be worth treatment and on the other abandonment to death simply. “I am afraid that sometimes, in our debates, things are rushing that forget the thickness and the great difficulty sometimes, too, to simply think of the slightest evil. Because faced with certain situations, there is no longer the good on one side, the evil on the other, but simply to choose in concrete situations, in the loneliness of the one who has to die, of his family, of his doctor, the singular path which respects each moment the dignity of each “he added.
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The deputies approved in committee on Friday the bill, after respectful but uncompromising debates on this sensitive subject, resulting from a bill wanted by the Head of State but which could not be carried out at its end because of the dissolution, in June 2024, of the National Assembly.
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The text of Olivier Falorni (Modem group) was adopted Friday by 28 deputies against 15 and one abstention. Supported by the majority of representatives of the left and macronist groups, and fiercely fought by those of the National Rally (RN) and the Republicans (LR), it would allow patients suffering from a « affection grave et incurable » Who “Surges the vital prognosis, in advanced or terminal phase” and no longer supporting their suffering, to receive or administer a lethal substance.
