French bishops dismayed at religious symbols ban

PARIS (RNS) - French Roman Catholic bishops expressed dismay Nov. 10 over new efforts to ban the wearing of religious symbols, like crosses in public and some private schools in France.

"The proposal to ban students from wearing all religious symbols in schools, when it does not trouble public order, seems to us a regression of freedom of expression," said Bishop Jean-Pierre Ricard, president of the Council of Bishops in France, during a closing speech of the group's annual meeting in Lourdes.

The question of wearing religious accessories to public school first surfaced earlier this year, after a number of Muslim girls refused to takeoff their veils or head scarves in French public schools. The furor sparked calls for new French legislation that would ban wearing not only veils in public schools, but also Catholic crosses, Jewish skullcaps and other religious symbols. Some lawmakers are even considering extending a new ban to include parochial schools dependent on state funds.

The issue of banning religious symbols in school is being debated elsewhere in Europe, notably in Italy and Germany. France's 1905 law established a strict separation of church and state. But gray areas, like this one, remain.

France's center-right government is divided over passing a law. A government-appointed secularity commission is expected to give its opinion on the matter next month, and President Jacques Chirac is expected to make a decision early next year. The French parliament has formed a similar commission.

Like their Catholic counterparts, Muslim leaders in France have expressed concern about a possible law. But one poll, published by Le Figaro newspaper last week, found 55 percent of French favorable to legislation.

The majority of French people are Roman Catholic, but many are non-practicing. Church attendance in France, like elsewhere in Europe, has plummeted in recent decades.

Last week, the French Catholic Church suffered another setback when the government decided to revoke a key religious holiday - Whit Monday - for public sector employees. The proceeds from the new, post-Easter working day will be used to help finance care for the French elderly and disabled.