French cardinal dismisses government's plan to counter Islamic radicals by teaching secularity
March 09, 2015
Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris has scoffed at a proposal by Prime Minister Manuel Valls to defeat Islamic fundamentalism by encouraging the study of secularity in the schools of France.
Valls has vowed to “mobilize society around secularity,” and has said that his government is already working to promote the study of the principles of secular society. But Cardinal Vingt-Trois counters: “You can’t have a religion manufactured by a bureaucracy.”
“It is a dangerous utopia to think that customs can be transformed by offering mandatory courses on secularism,” the cardinal told La Croix. He said that religions can play an important role in promoting mutual respect in society, but religion should not be seen as “a flagship for conflict-resolution.”
“It is all very well to involve religions,” the cardinal said, “but only while acknowledging what they really represent.”
“We are not the religious auxiliary of the republic,” the cardinal remarked.
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Further information:
- Paris cardinal chides prime minister for 'utopian' plan to secularize 'Islamic fascism'
- Cardinal André Vingt-Trois?: « La laïcité ne s’apprend pas comme les sciences naturelles » (La Croix)
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