Catholics demonstrate in Versailles.

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Olivier Coret / SIPA

  • Demonstrations bringing together thousands of Catholics took place this weekend across France.

  • The faithful and some Church leaders are asking the government to lift the ban on mass in public, a measure intended to stem the coronavirus epidemic.

  • The Prime Minister announced a possible relaxation of the current regime from December 1, subject to the improvement of sanitary conditions, said Matignon at the end of the meeting.

Until when will mass be said?

Thousands of Catholics gathered in several cities across France on Sunday to demand the lifting of the ban on public masses imposed during the reconfinement.

This government decision to suspend religious ceremonies to fight the coronavirus epidemic was confirmed on November 7 by the Council of State.

In this context, Jean Castex and his Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, received this Monday the representatives of the cults to "take stock of the restrictions of religious ceremonies linked to the health crisis".

"In order to draw up prospects, which will be based on improving sanitary conditions, the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior recalled the horizon set around December 1 by the President of the Republic" during the announcement re-containment, said Matignon after the meeting.

"They insisted on the need to work as of now on the adaptation of the rules which will allow the resumption of the exercise of worship, as soon as the sanitary conditions allow it [...] These proposals will be submitted next week to the Prime Minister" , adds Matignon.

"Real presence is essential"

Because today, churches are open but services are still prohibited.

As during the first confinement, Catholics - like the faithful practicing another religion - are therefore forced to live their faith in a personal way.

However, some parishes continue to innovate, in particular by offering the celebration of Masses by videoconference.

"Everyone tries to manage, but these are stopgaps," points out Vincent Neymon, spokesperson for the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF).

“Because Catholics consider Mass as a celebration that is lived in community.

The Eucharist is a sacrament concelebrated by all the participants.

When we watch mass on television, we do not participate.

Real presence is essential, ”he adds.

Because it is no more dangerous to pray in a church than to go to the supermarket for a drink, I co-signed the platform of my colleague Damien Regnard to demand the lifting of the ban on gatherings and meetings in the places of worship https://t.co/mir8sDdH7Y

- Sylviane NOËL, Senator of Haute-Savoie (@noel_sylviane) November 14, 2020

After the unfavorable decision of the Council of State on the resumption of religious services, the CEF was said to be "disappointed" that "the faithful remain unable to participate in mass".

The bishops were also “impatiently awaiting the announced consultation” with the representatives of the State.

Put pressure on the government before deconfinement

“We have proposed a detailed health protocol with all types of celebration in churches, the flagship measure being the implementation of 4m2 per person,” says Vincent Neymon.

But Catholic officials didn't have much hope that things would change in their favor before December 1.

Last Thursday, Jean Castex had also assured that "it would be irresponsible to lift or lighten the device now".

Believers will therefore have to wait before taking Communion.

The Protestant Federation of France specified that a new protocol would be proposed by the Minister of the Interior "within eight to ten days".

“Our objective is not arm wrestling but consultation.

We will respect the decisions of the government until the sanitary conditions allow a certain number of vices to be released.

But we want to be heard because we were a little forgotten during the first deconfinement, ”says Vincent Neymon.

To the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, the #CEF reiterated the strong expectations of the faithful for the resumption of public celebrations.

Protocols for a controlled recovery from December 1 are being developed.


📣The press release►https: //t.co/M6M0EFHuF2 pic.twitter.com/8duwchOghV

- Catholic Church (@Eglisecatho) November 16, 2020

Catholic officials thus wish to put pressure on the executive, at a time when the latter is working on the conditions for the future deconfinement.

Because on May 11, religious establishments were not part of the first deconfinement measures announced by the Prime Minister at the time, Edouard Philippe.

And it was necessary that the Council of State, seized in summary order, order the government to lift the “general and absolute” ban on meetings in places of worship, because of its “disproportionate nature”, to allow their reopening.

The deputy La République en Marche Marie Tamarelle-Verhaeghe, openly Catholic, said she was "perplexed" in the face of said "perplexed" in the face of the demands of certain Catholics.

“My priority, also as a Christian, is the protection of others, solidarity with my peers, my elders, our fellow citizens.

This request is therefore not defensible because the faith can, for a time, be expressed other than in public ”, specifies the elected official of Eure.

“We must continue our efforts, because it is only by reducing the epidemic that we will be able to consider being together as a family during the Christmas holidays.

This is a new sensitive issue for the executive, which this time will go beyond the simple Catholic circle.

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  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Confinement

  • Religion

  • Catholicism

  • Government