Posted on 01/18/2008 12:35:39 AM PST by Cincinna
President Nicolas Sarkozy's increasingly frequent and positive references to God and faith have drawn fire from critics who accuse him of violating France's separation of church and state.
Sarkozy, a taboo-breaker whose whirlwind love life has distracted the media for weeks, broke with traditional presidential reserve about religion to stress France's Christian roots in a speech in a Rome basilica just before Christmas.
In Riyadh on Monday, he hailed Islam as "one of the greatest and most beautiful civilisations the world has known" and described his Saudi hosts as rulers who "appeal to the basic values of Islam to combat the fundamentalism that negates them".
His praise for a kingdom that enforces and propagates a strict version of Islam, during a visit aimed at securing lucrative export contracts, was the last straw for his critics.
"This is not respect for the separation of church and state," Socialist opposition leader Francois Hollande said.
"This is an ideological stand that makes religion into an instrument to promote French products civilian nuclear plants for Muslim countries," he said. "Mixing religion and foreign policy is illogical and wrong."
Jean-Louis Debre, a leading Gaullist who is now head of the Constitutional Council, indirectly chided Sarkozy by saying the 1905 law separating church and state was a good one and that it was "opportune to make sure its balance is not upset".
FAITH EQUALS HOPE FOR SARKOZY
At issue is Sarkozy's break with a French tradition that sees faith strictly as a private affair. This began with the 1905 law and grew into a kind of political correctness that made bringing religion into public affairs a major taboo.
The president calls this a negative "laicite" -- the French term for church-state separation implies that taboo as well -- and wants a "positive laicite" that values the hope that faith brings and allows state subsidies for faith-based groups.
The dispute flared up in the National Assembly on Wednesday, with Socialist Jean Glavany attacking the Riyadh speech: "A speech citing God not only on every page, but on every line, creates a fundamental problem for the republic."
Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie responded by saying the government wanted "to help all spiritualities to express themselves, including those based on atheism".
Although the 1905 law aimed at undercutting the vast influence the Roman Catholic Church once wielded in France, Church leaders now are reserved about any reforms that could upset the status quo and revive anti-clerical movements.
By contrast, the five-million-strong Muslim minority, the largest in Europe, would appreciate reforms that would help them finance mosque building and expand training for imams.
The twice-divorced president defines himself as a "cultural Catholic", an infrequent churchgoer who says he values the moral and social role that religion can play in society.
"Someone who believes is someone who hopes," he said in the speech in Rome's Basilica of Saint John Lateran. "It is in the republic's interest to have many men and women who hope."
You can’t even talk about God in public. how nice.
Sorry to hear that he has been duped. Europe is toast.
In Riyadh on Monday, he hailed Islam as “one of the greatest and most beautiful civilisations the world has known” and described his Saudi hosts as rulers who “appeal to the basic values of Islam to combat the fundamentalism that negates them”.
It is apostasy to mention God in France. Very politically incorrect.
The Socialists have created a world view and a society that excludes God from all public, legal, and moral discourse.
When Sarko firmly stated his belief that France is a country founded and dependent on Judeo-Christian values, they went ballistic.
When he went to Rome and paid due respects to the Pope, and received Vatican honors at the Church of Saint John Lateran, the Lef5t went crazy.
He can’t even say “God Bless You” without being trashed as a religious fanatic. Every comment and complaint the French left makes about American elections is either about America’s racism...they view the US through the lens of Alabama 1062, or religious fanaticism.
America should listen up...this is what happens when you take God, Faith, and Hope out of the public square. Sarko is fighting a valiant fight, but it is all uphill because of the damage done in the past, and the brainwashing of generations of small minded little leftists.
Good!! Go Sarko!!
Would he have said this before he was elected???.....
When Rome became so dangerouse that the Pope ahd to leave, he went to France.
France was long called “Daughter of the Church”.
A veil of darkness if settling over Europe.
I hope he leads good people back to faith, giving them hope.
“...he hailed Islam as “one of the greatest and most beautiful civilizations the world has known...”
Sarkozy, don’t encourage them. Their goal is to control your country and your continent one day. Reality check.
In Riyadh on Monday, he hailed Islam as "one of the greatest and most beautiful civilisations the world has known" and described his Saudi hosts as rulers who "appeal to the basic values of Islam to combat the fundamentalism that negates them"... "This is not respect for the separation of church and state," Socialist opposition leader Francois Hollande said. "This is an ideological stand that makes religion into an instrument to promote French products civilian nuclear plants for Muslim countries," he said. "Mixing religion and foreign policy is illogical and wrong."Sorry, Hollande, but calling it "illogical" is a nonsequitur. And from an economic standpoint, it makes perfect sense to kiss some ass to sell expensive products to a theocracy's rulers. Also, it lulls them to sleep better than a lullaby. Y'know, because the French will be competing to sell weapons and ammo to both sides when the Arabian civil war breaks loose. Thanks Cincinna.
***
This is so way beyond pc, kissy face, honey for a bee nonsense. This is the one world religion of universalism coming into being. Sorry to sound like a broken record - but no real Christian will soften the words and truth of the gospel regarding Jesus Christ, His Lordship, and that He is the only way, only door one must go through to attain salvation, His name the only name that can be called on to be saved. Wolves in sheep's clothing masquerading as believers in Jesus Christ and then spreading the lie from the pit of hell that other faith and other pagan gods are just peachy keen. The New World Order CFR globalists have the whole thing mapped out for the antichrist. Somewhere in Italy there must be some secret house in the side of some small hill where they all meet and drink their special brand of kool aid and come out saying the same lie from the pit.
Amen. We must not have received our invites from Mr. Ki-moon to this because of our standards, (more globalist kool aid):
“The Alliance of Civilizations Forum”
http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=171
OK, I'll bite. What was going on in Alabama during the eleventh century? Was that when Madog, a Welsh prince, may have arrived at Mobile after crossing the Atlantic?
I thought French media be tolerant to Cathoic church since it was Cathoic kings that help build France back in da day
Hey French did have bad**** king and Queen hear of Eleandor of Acqutaine the Queen of France with Louis 2
With the Cathedral at Tours and Notre Dame, why would France run away from such a rich History?
Joan of Arc etc. ?
Seems to me the Socialists are an awfully uptight bunch of ninnies.
And Sarkozy is also the President of 7 million Muslim French, so is supposed to go to the home of Mecca and Medina and say -0-?
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