Fewer French Believe

A French opinion and marketing research institute (IFOP) has released the findings of a recent survey on the relationship of the French to religion.   The IFOP survey reveals that fewer and fewer French people believe in God (51%), a 15% decrease from 1947 when 66% of respondents claimed to be believers.   

 Equally interesting is that the vast majority (91%) of those completing the survey felt that the Coronavirus pandemic had not ignited in them a desire to connect with their faith and religious practices.  However, 21% of French respondents said that the 2019 fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris had stirred in them a religious feeling or spiritual hunger.  

 Read more about this survey by Evangelical Focus Europe by clicking here. 

The Faculté Jean Calvin in Aix-en-Provence plays a strategic role in training pastors and lay leaders to be a light in the midst of the darkness and disillusionment that are so prevalent within French society.    

 Will you join us in praying for the seminary?  Will you partner with The Huguenot Fellowship to ensure that the strategic work of Faculté Jean Calvin goes forward “from strength to strength” (Psalm 84) ?  

New Law on Separatism

France’s Protestant Committee for Human Dignity (CPDH) recently sent a letter to its members, excerpted here and translated for English readers. This letter reports on the controversial new law on separatism. While intended to curb the growth of extremism and resulting terrorist attacks, which have plagued France in recent years, this law has chilling implications for Christian churches and homeschooling families.

Dear friends of the CPDH,

…the law “consolidating republican principles” marks a shift in the state's relationship with worship, to the point where, quite rightly, the National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) spoke of a “laïcité de surveillance” (surveillance secularism).

This increased control and the accompanying reduction in freedoms will result in:

Religious associations must register with the prefect every five years;

Their accounting obligations are increased. Foreign donations of more than 10,000 euros must be specially declared. The prefect may object to these when he considers that a fundamental interest of society is at stake;

Associations or foundations, which request a public subsidy, will have to undertake to respect the secular character and the principles of the Republic (gender equality, human dignity, fraternity ...) in a "republican contract of engagement". If they violate this obligation, the grant will have to be repaid. Compliance with the contract becomes a condition for obtaining an authorization or recognition of public utility;

The schooling of all children in a school becomes compulsory at the start of the 2022 school year. Homeschooling will be subject to authorization (no longer only to declaration) and granted only for four reasons: state of health or disability of the child; practice of intensive sporting or artistic activities; family homelessness; situation specific to the child motivating the educational project. But thanks to pressure from associations defending freedom of education, full authorization until 2023-2024 has been provided for families already practicing family education in satisfactory conditions.

To learn more: consult the government site (French).

Update on the Separatist Law

The proposed separatist law, also referred to as the “Law to Reinforce Republican Values”, continues to move through the legislative system in France.  The proposed law is designed to stem radical Islam that has been at the root of numerous terrorist attacks in France, and, if enacted, would place restrictions on the freedom of worship in France.  The CNEF (Conseil National des Evangéliques de France) estimates that, if approved, any application of the law would not take place until Spring 2022, given the time to create statutes and methods to enforce the law. 

Impact France summarizes the current status of the deliberations:

Discussions have concluded and the bill is entering the final stages of the National Assembly vote which is projected to be at the end of June. The version of the law that is currently in the Assembly is NOT the version the Senate passed but the Assembly’s original bill that they approved. This final version of the bill will be sent to the Senate where the same process will take place (discussions, debates, vote).  To learn more about the evolution of the process click here (in French).

The CNEF is still working with different parliamentarians and advocating for the rights of the Church. Even if the “spirit of the law” doesn’t change, the CNEF is hopeful that the amendments and concrete measures to apply the law will not move France into a surveillance state when it comes to faith. The passage of the law is also dependent on the Constitutional Counsel – which can be another safeguard.

Click for news source and further information from ImpactFrance.org.

May the Church in France be faithful to Her witness, and may the Lord give wisdom to church leaders of the CNEF, in particular, as they engage with government leaders regarding the potential impact of this law.  

Critical Days for the Church in France

The law currently being debated in the French parliament – officially named ‘the Law to uphold Republican Principles’ - is really the culmination of many years of terrorist acts carried out by radical Islamists, and the government’s response to curb these separatist movements.  But will it actually have a greater negative effect on evangelical churches?

As Pastor John-Raymond Stauffacher, President of the Union of Evangelical Reformed Churches, and graduate of Faculté Jean Calvin seminary says, “Everyone agrees to kill radical Islam in the bud, but this law, as it is formulated, is disconnected from its avowed aim.”

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Frustrated by years of terrorism inflicted by radical Islamists, France’s parliament is debating a law to end Muslim separatism. French evangelicals fear their churches will become collateral damage….

Click to continue reading this helpful summary from Christianity Today.