After fractious French election, Catholic bishops try to heal a divided flock
Deep political rifts surfaced among Catholics during France’s recent presidential election, leaving the country’s bishops worried about unity within their Church
"A country divided, opposed to each other and no longer knowing how to look for common ground."
That’s how Bishop Olivier Leborgne of Arras in Northern France described the mood of his country following the recent presidential election that handed Emmanuel Macron a second consecutive term in office
The election, which took place on April 10 and 24, was tense and fractious. Legislative elections, which will be held June 12 and 19, promise to be the same.
Many wonder if they reveal "an impressive divide" in France?
This is particularly true in this rural department of Hauts-de-France, where far-right icon Marine Le Pen gathered 58% of the vote in the second round, compared to 42% for Emmanuel Macron, the centrist incumbent.
Two Catholic “blocs”
The French bishops are well aware that these divides have not spared practicing Catholics either.
The choice of the far-right has reached unprecedented levels among Catholics, although lower than the national results. According to a survey commissioned by La Croix, 39% of regular practicing Catholics voted for Le Pen in the second round, compared to 41.5% for all French people.
A few bishops insist that the political divisions are not expressed too much in the ordinary life of the Church, claiming that parishes have "remained rather peaceful". But most of their confreres have deplored the vitriol being spread on social media.
"This concerns me very much, because on the Internet people are hurting each other with sharp words and mutual condemnation," said Bishop Alexandre Joly of Troyes in Northeastern France.
Two Catholic "blocs" are emerging, each accusing the other of making serious errors of discernment on certain issues. One group raises the question of bioethics or so-called threats to "Christian civilization”, with the other focuses on ecology or welcoming foreigners.
With each election apparently revealing ever more marked political divergences, is communion within the French Church in danger of splintering?
Bishops careful “not to condemn anyone”
La Croix put that question to several bishops. They all appeared rather embarrassed and were careful "not to condemn anyone", saying they were interested in listening to the explanations of those Catholics who were enticed by the extreme-right.
Many of them seem to have been motivated over such concerns as bioethical issues and church closings during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
"Some Catholics feel that they have played the game of democracy and that they have not been listened to, which causes disappointment," said Bishop Bruno Feillet of Séez, from an Alpine diocese in the east of France.
"During these five years, the government has given the impression that it does not respect Catholic life," added Bishop Joly.
He and others say it is urgent to restore trust, even more than Church unity.
"Distrust has set in with regard to authority in general, and distrust damages the common good," he said.
In those areas of the country that voted for the extreme right, often where unemployment is high, the bishops want most of all to "listen to the voices of those who are poorest".
"The liberal model that is supposed to 'save' societies leaves many people by the wayside: the Church must be attentive to the people who express their distress at the ballot box," Archbishop François Fonlupt of Avignon has been insisting since last summer.
“A silence that trivializes evil"
Faced with such challenges, the question of communion remains unanswered.
So far, the vast majority of French bishops have not done anything to dissuade voters from choosing extreme-right candidates in the upcoming legislative elections.
Is that in order to preserve this ecclesial "communion"?
Most of the bishops say it is not, but is rather their refusal to "infantilize" Catholics.
"I am quite amazed that the faithful who want to do away with clericalism ask us for whom to vote!" said an annoyed Bishop Leborgne.
Archbishop Hervé Giraud of Sens-Auxerre in Central France claimed he did not want to "add violence and division among Christians".
But he then added, "Today we must make a choice between strong, just words, even if it risks angering some of them, and a silence that trivializes evil".
In any case, the bishops La Croix spoke to believe that the differences that are expressed during elections do not prevent the faithful from "working together the rest of the time".
Some have seen the synodal process as an opportunity to bring together Catholics of different persuasions to find a common voice, one that "doesn't just come from above".
Others, following the example of Bishop Jean-Luc Brunin of Le Havre, encourage people to "bring new oxygen to the life of the Church" by reinvesting in the social sphere and avoiding the temptation to live in their own little bubble.
"Christians must support fraternity at the level of daily life," he said.