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Handout #239 |
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The Separation of Church and State in France (1905) |
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The militant laicism of the socialist deputy Maurice
Allard (10 April 1905)
It has to be said very loudly that the Church, Catholicism or even Christianity is incompatible with any republican regime. Christianity is an outrage to reason, an outrage to nature. I also declare very clearly that I wish to pursue the ideal of the Convention and to complete the work of de-Christianizing France which was taking place in utter calm and as happily as could be imagined until the day when Napoleon concluded his Concordat. And why do we Republicans and above all we socialists want to de-Christianize this country? Why are we fighting against religion? We are fighting against religion because we believe and I say this again that it is a permanent obstacle to progress and civilization. |
