The cemeteries will remain open: "Homage to the dead is the mark of a civilization"

INTERVIEW

France will again be confined, but with some changes compared to last March.

Among the novelties announced by Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday: cemeteries will remain open and burials will be possible without restriction.

A measure welcomed Thursday morning on Europe 1 by Daniel Duigou, priest in Paris and delegate for new beliefs.

"It's important. Because paying homage to the dead is indeed the mark of a civilization," said Daniel Duigou at the microphone of Simon Ruben.

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"The rite is fundamental in society. It is reserved for believers, but also for unbelievers, because the rite is a language. It is part of life. It makes it possible to think about the unnamable, the horror, the emptiness of death and to pay homage to the dead. To bury them with dignity is to recognize that they are not animals ", continues the priest.

"It's quite commonplace to wear flowers on the grave. It's a rite, it's a gesture that replaces a word. We need it, whether we are alive or dead. Besides, it also exists the republican rite. The Republic uses the rite with the flag, the national anthem,

We need the rite to express fundamental things, whoever we are, "he philosopher.

Towards a confined Christmas?

"A Christian must first be a citizen"

Contrary to the claims of many religious actors, the Head of State, however, did not announce any restrictions on masses and other public religious events.

And according to information from Europe 1, the confinement could even last beyond Christmas, an important period if any for Christians.

But Daniel Duigou calls now to make a difference.

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"It is possible, yes, indeed, that one cannot celebrate Christmas one way or another, believer or not believer, around the tree or the manger. But you know, for Christians, the worship may not be essential. The important thing is to be with others, it is to commune with others, and more than ever today ", theorizes the priest.

And to conclude: "A Christian, since you speak of Christmas, then let's speak of the Christian, must first of all be a citizen, who must commune with the others. I would say to accept with the others the constraints because that" it is once again a matter of living, of continuing to live and of making life possible ".